MEMJIRKABLE SHIPJVRECKS, 

OR 

A COLLECTION OF INTERESTING ACCOUNTS 

OF 

NATAL DISASTERS. 

WITH MANY PARTICULARS 

jOF THE 
EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES AND SUFFERINGS 

OF TKE 

CREWS OF VESSELS WRECKED AT SEA, 

AND 

OF THEIR TREATMENT OJV DISTANT SHORES. 

TOGETHER WITH AN 

Account of t&e ©efifcer&nce of Jmrtubor& 



SELECTED FROM AUTHENTIC SOURCES, 



HARTFORD. 

PUBLISHED BY ANDRUS AND STARE. 

John Russell, jr. Printer, 

1813. 



DISTRICT OF CONNECTICUT, ss. 

, r»^^ . ~0 E it Remembered, That on the twentieth 
< l. s. [JO <^ a y of January in the thirty-seventh 
' v-~^ ' year of the independence of the United States 
of America, Andrus & Starr, of the said District, have 
deposited in this office the title of a Book the right 
whereof they claim as proprietors, in the words fol- 
lowing, to wit : 

" Remarkable Shipwrecks, or a collection of interest- 
" ing accounts of Naval Disasters, with many particu- 
" lars of the extraordinary adventures and sufferings of 
" the Crews of Vessels wrecked at sea, and of their 
" treatment on distant shores ; together with an account 
" of the deliverance of survivors, selected from authentic 
" sources." 

In conformity to the act of the Congress of the Unit- 
ed States, entitled. " An act for the encouragement of 
" learning, by securing the copies of Maps, Charts, and 
<; Books, to the Authors and Proprietors of such copies, 
tl during the times therein mentioned." 

HENRY W. EDWARDS, Clerk 
of the District of Connecticut. 
A true copy of Record. 
Examined and Sealed by me, 

HENRY W. EDWARDS, Clerk 
of the district of ^Connecticut 



J_N presenting to the public this volume of JV&- 
val Disasters, we trust it will not be amiss, to prefix a 
few words explanatory of the nature and subject of the 
work. In these sheets the reader is presented, not 
with the fictitious picture of imagination, but the bold 
hand of unsullied truth here records, what human na- 
ture, by the will of Divine Frovidence, has been call 4 
ed to suffer from that tempestuous element, to which 
He has said, " Hitherto shalt thou" come and no farther, 
and here shall thy proud waves be stayed." 

Does the heart of sensibility send forth a tear of sym 4 
pathy, at beholding the fire devouring and consuming^ 
the house of a friend, and him, together with his fa- 
family, turned destitute into the street T How much 
more will it be effected, then, when witnessing the 
scenes herein exhibited. 

Behold the ship safely gliding along upon the 
smooth sea, every heart bounding with joy, at the 
prospect of their soon reaching the destined port, and 
once more embracing those friends from whom they 
have long been separated; when, all at once, a 
cloud arises — the sun withdraws its light — the tempest 
rolls on, accompanied with all the horrors of midnight 



iv PREFACE. 

darkness— she drives headlong upon the rocks—ah * 
fatal moment. Where now shall they seek for refuge ? 
No kind friend is present to lend the aid sufficient to 
protect these unhappy sufferers ; but the few remains 
of the wreck must float them they know not where, 
destined often to satisfy the cravings of hunger, and 
to prolong a lingering life, by drawing nutriment from 
the vilest crumbs, and if at length victorious over the 
waves, falling at last, perhaps, a sacrifice on deso- 
late coasts, to the deadening blasts of unaccustomed 
climes, and the still more fatal cruelties of unfeeling 
barbarians. 

To seamen, we trust this volume will prove a valu- 
able acquisition ; as they may here learn not only to 
guard against despondency, should they be called to 
experience the like misfortunes, but with cool deliber- 
ation to choose the best method of preservation. 

Those readers who wish to acquire a knowledge of 
human nature, will here behold, on the one hand, the 
character of those, who, under the most trying cir- 
cumstances, manifested such traits of heroism, fortitude, 
and generosity, as will be beheld with admiration ; 
while on the other hand, he will shudder at the recital 
of those acts, which the cruel hand of necessity has 
obliged them to perpetrate. 

L\ a compilation embracing the objects of the pre- 
sent volume, the compilers scarcely need advert^ 



PREFACE. m 

for the satisfaction of those readers, whose curiosity 
may draw them more particularly to events immedi- 
ately connected with the history of their own country, 
to the consideration, that on account of the infancy of 
the American Nation, and the extended commerce of 
the many, and more populous European Powers, 
greater attention could not, consistently, have been 
paid to domestic occurrences, without an abridge- 
ment of accounts, which, selected from the experi- 
ence of all ages and nations, must, in their nature, be 
calculated much more deeply to interest, 



A % 



CONTENTS, 

Page. 

JuOSS of the Brig Sally, with the sufferings of her 
crew, on the wreck, - - - - - 1 1 

Shipwreck of the Countess de Bourk, on the coast 
of Algiers ; and the adventures of her daughter, 
Mademoiselle de Bourk, in 1719. - - - IS 

Narrative of the loss of the American Ship Hercu- 
les, on the coast of Caffraria, June 16th, 1796. - 27* 

Loss of the Grosvenor Indiaman, on the coast of 
Caffraria, August 4th, 1792 ; with the particulars 
relative to the unfortunate survivors of the wreck. 59 

Shipwreck of the English East-Indiaman, the Fatty- 
salem ; on the coast of Coromandel, on the 28th 
of August, 1761. ■* r - - 9% 

The loss of his Majesty's Ship Litchfield, of Fifty 
guns, on the coast of Barbary, on the 30th of 
November, 1758. - - - - 10$ 

Shipwreck of the Portuguese Vessel St. James, off 
the coast of Africa, in 1586. -. - 120 

The loss of an English sloop, on the coast off the 
Island of Cape Breton, in 17 8^. - - - 12£ 



viii CONTENTS. 

Page. 
The loss of his Majesty's ship Centaur, of Seventy- 
Four guns, September 23d, 1782; and the mira- 
eulous preservation of the Pinnace, with the Cap- 
tain, Master, and Ten of the crew. - - 156 

Shipwreck of the sloop Betsy, on the coast of Dutch 
Guiana, August 5th, 1756. - - - 172 

The shipwreck of a Portuguese Vessel, with Em- 
manuel Sosa, and his wife Eleonora Garcia Sala, 
on the East coast of Africa, in 1553. - 185 

Narrative of the loss of the brig Tyrrel, which was 
overset in a gale of wind, on her passage from 
New-York to Antigua, in 1759. - 193 

Narrative of the sufferings and extraordinary adven- 
tures of Four Russian Sailors, who were cast 
away on the Desert Island of East- Spitsbergen, 
in 1743. 204 

Loss of the Halsewell East Indiaman, wrecked off 
Seacombe, in the Isle of Purbeck, on the coast 
of Dorsetshire, January 6th, 1736. - - 214< 

Loss of the Nottingham Galley, of London ; wreck- 
ed on Boon-Island, near New-England, Decem- 
ber 11th, 1710; with the sufferings, preservation, 
and deliverance of the crew, - - - 226 



CONTENTS. hi 

Page. 
Narrative of the shipwreck of M. De Brisson, on 
the coast of Barbary ; and of his captivity among 
the Moors, in 1785. - - - - -240 

Shipwreck of the Jonge Thomas, a Dutch East-fn- 
diaman, at the Cape of Good Hope, on the 2d of 
June, 1773. 260 

Loss of the Apollo Frigate, and Twenty-Nine sail 
of West Indiamen, Near Figuera, on the coast of 
Portugal, April 2d, 1 804. - 264 

Shipwreck of the French ship Droits de L'Homme, 
of Seventy-Four guns, driven on shore, on the 
13th of January, 1797. 271 

The loss of his Majesty's ship Phoenix, off the Island 
of Cuba, in 1780. ----- 279 

The sufferings of Robert Scotney, second mate of 
the brig Thomas, captain Gardner, who survived 
by himself Seventy Five days, on a perfect wreck 
in 1803. - - - - - - - 295 

The sufferings of Ephraim How, of New-Haven, 
who set sail for Boston in a small Ketch, which 
on its return was wrecked near Cape Sable, in 
the year 1676. - - - - - - 288 

Loss of his Majesty's ship La Tribune, off Halifax, 
^Nova Scotia,) NoYember, 1797, > - - 301 



t Contents. 

Page. 
Shipwreck of Captain George Roberts, on his pas- 
sage from Virginia to the coast of Guinea, in 
the year 1721. 307 

Narrative of the loss of the Eearl of Abergavenny, 
East Indiaman, Captain John Wadsworth, which 
drove on the Shambles, off the BiH of Portland, 
and sunk in twelve fathom water, on the 5th of 
February, 1805. 316 

Loss of the Corbin, commanded by Francis Pirard 
De Laval, on the Maldivia Islands. - - 323 

Loss by fire, of the French East-India Company's 
Vessel, the Prince, bound from L'Orient to Pon- 
dicherry, July 26th, 1752. - - - 338 

Shipwreck of the Degrave East-Indiaman, on the 
coast of Madagascar, in 1701. - - - 351, 

An extraordinary Famine in the American ship Peg- 
gy, on her return from the Azores to New- York, 
in 1765. 355 

Loss of the American Sloop Thetis, which was up- 
set in a gale of wind, on the 23d of November, 
1 809, on her passage from New-Bedford to Sa- 
vanna. - - - - . - . 36i 

A brief sketch of the engagements that have taken 

place between the Public Vessels of the United 

States and those of Great Britain, since the com- 
ment of the present War. - 364 



LOSS OP 

THE BRIG SALLY. 

CAPTAIN TABRY, 



AUGUST 8th, 1767, while in. latitude 25, hay- 
ing a strong gale of wind, the brig Sally was laid to un- 
der her main stay-sail till ten o'clock the next morning, 
when she was hove on her beam ends, and in less than 
five minutes turned keel upwards, so that they had on- 
Jy time to cut away the lanyards of her main-mast. 
There were on board Anthony Tabry, Master ; Hum- 
phry Mars, mate ; Joseph Sherver, Samuel Bess, John 
Burna, mariners, who were drowned; six other mariners, 
viz. Peter Toy, Daniel Cultan, John Davis, Alexan- 
der Landerry, Peter Mayes, and William Hammon, 
paving got hold of the top mast which floated alongside, 
tied it to the stern, and supported themselves by it, till 
about five o'clock in the evening, when the cabbin-boy 
swam to the hull, and threw them a rope, by which 
they got on the bottom of the vessel, where they were 
still in a dismal plight ; the first want that invaded them 
was drink, this drove away all thoughts of meat. The 
main mast, with all the rigging, the lanyards having 
been cut away, came up alongside, from which they 
got the wreath, (a square hoop which binds the bead of 
the mast,) with which, and a bolt of a foot long, they 
went to work on her bottom ; in the mean time keeping 
their mouths moist, as well as they could, by chewing 
the stuff of her bottom, she not having any barnacles, 
being lately cleaned ; and some lead which was on her 
bow, and drinking their own water: in four days time 
Peter Toy died, raving for drink, whose body they 
threw off the vessel the next day. In this manner did 
they work for six days, without meat, drink, or sleep, 
not daring to lie down for fear of falling off the vessel ; 
the sixth day they got a hole in the brig, where they 
found a barrel of bottle beer ; this they drank very greed- 



J2 LOSS OF THE BRIG SALLY. 

try : they soon got another parcel, when one of them put 
the others on an allowance. The eleventh day of their 
being on the wTeck, they got a barrel of pork, which 
they were obliged to eat raw. 

As to sleep, as soon as they got a hole through the 
vessel's bottom, they pulled out a great number of staves 
and shingles, and made a platform in the same place, but 
so small it was, that when they wanted to turn, they 
were obliged to wait till the sea hoisted the vessel, and 
when she fell again with the sea, they were almost froze 
to death. Thus did these poor miserable fellows live 
for thirteen or fourteen days : after they got the pork, 
they made a kind of net with a hoop, some shingles, 
and ropes, which they got from the mast ; this they let 
into the sea, with some pork, and caught a few small 
fish, which, with two or three mice they caught onboard 
the brig, afforded them several most delicious repasts, 
raw as they were : this lasted but a few days, as they 
could not catch any more ; when they were obliged to 
return to their pork, which had become quite putrid by 
the saltwater getting into it. 

To their great joy, on the 1st of September, in lat. 
26, 15, long. 70, 20, at 4 o'clock in the afternoon, they 
could just perceive a vessel to windward of them, which 
seemed to stand some time for them ; it was then they 
despaired, as that morning they had drank the last bottle 
of their beer, and that one was all they had : for that 
day they worked hard to get at the casks of water in the 
hold, but they were so far from them, that they couid not 
have got at them in a long time : about sun half an hour 
high, the vessel stood for them, and came so near that 
they perceived a piece of canvass that they had on the 
wreck supported on a board, bore down for it, and 
about seven or eight o'clock took them on board ; she 
was the brig Norwich, Captain Robert Noyes. Thus 
were they relieved when death stared them in the face, 
by a Captain who used them kindly, gave them food and 
clothes, as their own were rotted cjT their backs, washed 
their sores, and gave them plasters, as they were almost 
raw from head to foot with the heat of the sun and salt 
water, which, in many places, had eaten holes in their 
fiesb. 



13 



SHIPWRECK OP 

THE COUNTESS DE BGURK, 

ON THE COAST OF ALGIERS. 

Aid Adventures of her Daughter, Mademoiselle de Boit 
in 1719. 



Te 



HE Count de Bourk, an Irish officer in the ser- 
vice of Spain, having been appointed ambassador extraor- 
dinary by his Catholic Majesty, to the Court of Sweden, his 
consort, the daughter of the Marquis de Varenne, who re- 
sided in France with her family, determined to join him 
at Madrid. With this view she demanded and obtained 
a passport for herself and her whole family, excepting 
one of her sons, three or four years of age, whom she 
left with her mother the Marchioness de Varenne. As 
she passed through Avignon she was joined by her bro- 
ther, an officer in the navy, who accompanied her to 
Montpellier. Here he dissuaded her from going by land, 
through the armies of France and Spain, though the 
Marechal de Berwick had offered to exert his utmost 
endeavors to procure her a safe passage to the Spanish 
frontiers ; and his son, the Marquis de Berwick, had 
promised her any escort she wished from the frontiers to 
Gironne, where he commanded the troops of his Catho- 
lic Majesty. The dread of the armies induced her to 
listen to the representation, that without incurring so 
many dangers and so great an expense, the shortest way 
would be to embark at Cette, from whence she might 
reach Barcelona in twenty-four hours. This plan she 
adopted the more readily, as she had before made seve?al 
voyages. Having procured another passport g::e repair- 
ed to Cette, where she found several French vessels ; 
but as nans of them were bound to Spain, she was 
B 



14 THE SHIPWRECK OP 

obliged to take her passage in a Genoese Tartan, that was 
ready to sail for Barcelona. i 

Madame de Bourk embarked with her son, a^ed eight 
rears, her daughter nine years and ten months ; the Abbe 
lie Bourk, four female servants, a steward, and a footman. 
These, with two other persons, composed the whole of 
her suite. She likewise had on board part of her effects 
and much valuable property : among the rest a rich ser- 
vice of silver plate, a portrait of the king of Spain, set 
in gold, and enriched with diamonds, &x. ; the whole 
forming seventeen bales or packages. 

The Tartan set sail on the 22d of October, 1719. On 
the the 25th at day break, an Algerine corsair, command- 
ed by a Dutch renegado, appeared about two leagues to 
windward of the Tartan, which was then in sight of 
the coast of Palamos. The Captain despatched his long 
boat, with twenty armed Turks, to take possession of 
her. As they approached they fired seven or eight mus- 
ket shots without wounding any person, because the 
whole of the crew had either fallen flat on the deck or 
concealed themselves. The Turks boarded the Tartan 
sword in hand, and wounded one of Madame de Bourk's 
sonants in two places. They then proceeded to the 
cabin, where that lady was, placed four centinels over it, 
and stood with the Tartan towards the corsair. On the 
way the Turks ransacked every part of the vessel. They 
found some hams, which they threw overboard, but 
greedily devoured the pasties, and drank immoderately 
of the wine and brandy. 

When they came along side the corsair they removed 
all the Genoese into her, and immediately put them in 
irons. The Captain then went on board the Tartan to 
Madame de Bourk's cabin, inquiring who she w T as, of 
what nation, whence she came, and Avhither she was 
bound. She replied that she was a French woman, that 
she was coming from France, and going to Spain. He 
desired to see her passport, which she shewed him, 
without suffering it to go out of her hands, fearing the 
barbariamnight destroy it : but upon the assurance of the 
corsair that lie Avould return it unto her when he had ex- 
amined it, she resigned it to him. After reading it with 
his interpreter, he restored it to her, saying that it was 



THE COUNTESS DE BOURK. 15 

good, and that she needed to be under no apprehension 
for herself, her suite, and her property. Madame de 
Bourk then requested, that as she was free both by her 
passport and her country, he would land her in his long 
boat on the coast of Spain, to which they were so near ; 
observing, that he owed this mark of respect to the pass- 
port of France ; that by his compliance he would spare 
her much fatigue, and her husband excessive anxiety ; 
and that if he would render her this service, she would 
make him a suitable acknowledgement. The corsair re- 
plied, that, being a renegado, he could not gratify her 
wishes, but at the peril of his own life ; it being an easy 
matter to persuade the Dey of Algiers, that under the 
pretext of a French passport he had released a family 
belonging to some power inimical to his state, if he 
landed her upon Christian ground ; that it was absolutely 
necessary she should accompany him to Algiers, that a 
representation of her passport, and her person, might be 
made to the Dey, after which she would be delivered to 
the French consul, who would procure her a conveyance 
to Spain, in any way she might think proper. He added, 
that he gave her the option of removing to his vessel, or 
remaining on board the Tartan, where she would enjoy 
more liberty and tranquility than in Ms ship ; advising her 
to adopt the latter proposal, as it would no! be prudent to 
trust herself and all the females who accompanied her, 
among nearly two hundred Turks or Moors, of which the 
crew of his vessel consisted. Madame de Bourk ac- 
cepted the latter proposal, and the captain sent on board 
only seven Turks, or Moors, to work the Tartan, which 
betook in tow after taking away her boat, three anchors, 
and all her provisions, excepting what belonged to Ma- 
dame de Bourk. After this arrangement the corsair bore 
away for Algiers. Madame de Bourk made hiin a pre- 
sent of her watch, and gave another to the Turkish com*- 
mander of the Tartan. 

On the 28th a furious tempest arose, and continued 
till the 30th, during which the cable that lashed the two 
vessels together, parted, and the Tartan was separated 
from the pirate. The commanding officer and the other 
Turks being extremely ignorant in nautical manoeuvre*, 
and without any compass, "that belonging to the Tartan 



16 THE SHIPWRECK OF 

having been broken in the fury of boarding, resigned the 
direction of the ship to the winds and the sea. Never- 
theless/the Tartan was driven on the 1st of November, 
without accident, upon the coast of Barbary, into a gulf 
called Colo, to the eastward of Gigery. There they 
came to an anchor, and the commander being unac- 
quainted with that part of the coast, ordered two Moofs 
to swim to shore to inquire of the inhabitants where he 
was. 

The Moor? in the vicinity perceiving the Tartan, re- 
paired armed, and in great numbers, to the shore, to op- 
pose any landing: they conjectured that it was a Chris- 
tian vessel, come for the purpose of carrying off their 
cattle, but they were undeceived by the Moors belonging 
to the corsair, who informed them that it was a prize 
taken from the Christians, and had on board an illustri- 
ous French Princess, whom they were carrying to Al- 
giers. One of the Moors remained on shore, the other 
swam back to inform the captain what coast it was off 
which he had anchored, and its distance from Algiers ; 
telling him at the same time that they must have beeu 
driven past that city by the violence of the wind which 
had prevailed for several days. Upon this intelligence, 
the commander, impatient to depart and join the corsair, 
did not give himself time to weigh the anchor, but cut- 
ting the cable, set sail, without anchor, boat, or compass. 

lie was not half a league from the gulf when he paid 
dearly for his imprudence: a contrary -wind aroso, 
which, in spite of his exertions, drove him back to the 
shore ; he attempted to ui his cars, but, with the few 
hands he had on board, they were perfectly useless. The 
Tartan struck upon a rock and went to pieces. The 
whole of the stern was instantly under water, and Ma- 
dame de Bourk, who was at prayers in the cabin with 
her son and female domestics, had nearly perished with 
them. Those who were at the head of the ship, among 
whom were the Abbe de Bourk, Mr. Arture, an Irishman, 
i he steward, one of the maids, and the footman, clung 
to that part of ti.e wreck which remained on the rock. 

Mr. Arture perceiving something in the water, strug- 
gling with the waves, ventured down, and found that 
if was Mademoiselle de Bourk, whom he rescued from 



THE COUNTESS DE BOI?RK. 17 

her perilous situation, and delivered her into the hands of 
the Steward, recommending her to his care, adding, that 
for his part he would betake himself to the sea, as he was 
the only person who could swim. Fortunate would it 
have been for him if he had not trusted to his dexterity ; 
for from that moment he was never seen more. The 
Abbe first descended from the wreck to the rock on which 
the Tartan struck ; he there supported himself some 
time, against the violence of the waves, by means 
of his knife, which he had thrust with force in- 
to a cleft of the rock. The sea broke several times 
over him, and even threw him upon a dry rock, where 
lie had only a small arm of the sea to cross, in order to 
arrive at the shore. To assist him in reaching it lie en- 
deavored to seize a plank from the wreck, that was near 
him, but failed. At length, by means of an oar, he gain- 
ed a rock communicating with the main land. 

He w T as seized and stripped by the Moors on the shore 
who cut off all his Clothes, even to his shirt, and other- 
wise ill-treated him. While some were thus engaged, 
others in great numbers threw themselves into the sea, 
in expectation of a rich booty. The steward, who held 
Mademoiselle de Bourk in his arms, made a sign to two- 
of these barbarians, who approached him, and when 
they were within four paces, he threw her to them with 
all his might ; they caught her, and laying hold of her, 
one by an arm, and the other by a leg, they conveyed 
her to the shore, where they took away only one of her 
shoes and stockings, as a token of servitude. The stew- 
ard, who confirmed all the circumstances of this fatal 
event, has repeatedly declared, that while he held her in 
his arms, upon the approach of the barbarians, she said 
to him, with an air superior to her years, " I am not 
afraid that those people will kill me, but I am apprehen- 
sive that they will attempt to make me change my reli- 
gion ; however, I will rather suffer death than break my 
promise to my God." He confirmed her in this gener- 
ous sentiment, declaring that he had taken the same re- 
solution, in which she earnestly exhorted him to perse- 
vere. 

The maid servant and the footman then threw them- 
selves into the water, where they were received by the 
B2 



18 TiiE SHIPWRECK OF 

Moor?, who assisted them in crossing the arm of the sea, 
and conducted them to the shore, where they stripped 
them quite naked. The steward having committed him- 
self to the mercy of the waves, and making use of a cord 
to assist him in getting from rock to rock, was met by a 
Moor, who likewise stripped him before he arrived at the 
shore. 

In this deplorable and humiliating state they were at 
first conducted to some huts on the nearest mountain. 
They were hurried forward by blows, along rugged road?, 
which tore their ket. The servant maid, in particular, 
was to be pitied, the poor girl being almost covered with 
bl/od from the wounds she had received in scrambling 
over the rocks. Each of them had besides a burthen of 
w et clothes, and they were obliged to carry the young 
lady by turns. Having arrived half dead, at the moun- 
tain, they were received amidst the shouts of the Moors, 
and the cries of the children, ^fhese barbarians had 
with them a great many d ^gs, which are uncommonly 
numerous in that country ; the animals being excited by 
the tumult, joined their barkings to the general discord. 
One of them tore the footman's leg, and another took a 
piece out of the thigh of the maid servant. 

These unfortunate people were then separated ; the 
female domestic and the footman were delivered to a 
Moor of the village, and Providence permitted Mademoi- 
selle de Bourk to remain under one and the same mas- 
ter with the Abbe and the steward. He first gave each of 
them a miserable cloak, full cf vermin ; their only food, 
alter such fatigues, consisted of a morsel of rye bread, 
prepared without leaven, and baked underneath the ashes, 
with a little water ; and their bed was the bare ground, 
iteward seeing his young mistress quite chilled by 
her domes that were soaked in the water, with difficulty 
pre cured a fire to be made, before which he wrung them 
i d diessed her again before they were half dry, be- 
uable to remain naked any longer. In this maimer 
Lssed the first night, terrified and comfortless. 

place in which they were, contained about fifty 

. all cf whom resided in five or six huts, con- 

; ! With branches of trees and reeds. Here thcy 

gether peli-mell, mes, women, children, and 



THE COUNTESS DE BOURK. 19 

beasts of every description. The barbarians assembled 
in the- hut where the three captives were, to deliberate 
upon their fate. Some, conformably with a principle of 
their religion, advised that they should be put to death, 
conceiving that the sacrifice of these Christians would in- 
sure them the joys of Mahomet's paradise. Others from 
a principle of interest, and the hope of a great ransom, 
were of the contrary opinion : thus the assembly broke 
up without coming to any determination. 

The ensuing day, having sent ibr the inhabitants of the 
neighboring villages, they returned in greater numbers. 
This was a day of continual alarm to the new slaves. 
Many of the barbadians made the most outrageous mena- 
ces, pointing to the fire, and giving them to understand 
that they would be burned alive; others drawing their sa- 
bres, appeared resolved, by their gestures, to cut off their 
heads, One of them seized Mademoiselle de Bourk by 
the hair, applying the edge of his sabre to her throat ; 
others charged their muskets with ball, in the presence of 
their captives, and presented them against their cheeks. 
The steward signi^ed by signs, that he and his compan- 
ions should esteem it a felicity to die for the Christian 
religion, and that all the loss would be their's. as they 
would deprive themselves, by this act of inhumanity, of 
the ransom they might otherwise expect. Upon this the 
most outrageous relented a little,, but the women and 
children every moment renewed their insults. 

They were guarded with such vigilance} that a Moor, 
with a helbert in his hand, attended them on every occa- 
sion, the barbarians being apprehensive that they might 
escape, or that their prey might be taken from them by 
force. With the latter they were, in fact, threatened a 
few days afterwards by the Bay of Constantine, who de- 
manded that the prisoners should be sent him, or he 
would come in person with his army to fetch them away. 
The Moors replied that they feared neither him nor his 
army, even were it united to that of Algiers. These 
Moors do not acknowledge the sovereignty of Algiers, 
though surrounded by its territory, and naturally the sub- 
jects of that power. They live in perfect independence 
under the denomination of Cabail, or the revolted; and 



20 THE SHIPWRECK OF 

the mountains of Couco serve them as impregnable ram- 
parts against all the forces of Algiers. 

Such was the state of these victims of misfortune, 
overwhelmed with fatigue, unable to obtain repose, tor- 
mented with hunger, and consigned, without any human 
assistance into the hands of merciless barbarians. These 
ferocious men even appeared so enraged against them, 
that when they spoke to them the fire flashed from their 
eyes, and the white which is so perceptible in the Negroes 
and Moors, cpiild not be distinguished. The maid ser-, 
vant and the footman experienced trials equally afflicting, 
and were still deprived of the consolation of seeing their 
mistress, or hearing any tidings of her. 

But even these accumulated evils, which left them 
without any other comfort than what they derived from 
religion, were insignificant, in comparison with the horrid 
spectacle which was soon presented to their eyes. The 
Moors, not contented with having in their possession the 
five persons who had escaped from the wreck, endeav- 
ored to recover some of the effects swallowed up by 
the sea, and which they conjectureiLto be of considera- 
ble value. As they were excellent divers, they soon 
raised the bales and chests, as well as the dead bodies, 
from the bottom of the sea. They took with them the 
steward and the footman, to assist them in removing what- 
ever they might save, to the mountain. After dragging 
the bodies on shore they stripped them for the sake of 
the clothes, and with flints cut off Madame de Bourk's 
fingers to get her rings, fearing Ie£t they should profane 
their knives if they came in contact with the bodies of 
Christians. 

What a spectacle for the unfortunate captives ! to be- 
hold the remains of persons so respectable exposed as a 
prey to wikf beasts ; and what was a thousand times more 
afflicting, to the insults of ihe Moors, who took delight 
in hearing the sound produced by stones thrown on their 
bodies, swelled * with the sea water. The steward en- 
deavored to represent to them, as well as his consterna- 
tion would permit that it was a violation of humanity, and 
that they oupfht at least to suffer them to be interred, but 
they replied that they never buried dogs. The footman 
having a load upon his back, a Moor endeavored to 



TSCE. COUNTESS ' DE BOURK. 21 

make him pass by the bodies, because it was the shortest 
way ; but he was unable to compel him, and the virtuous 
domestic, penetrared with horror, chose rather to climb a 
steep rock than to behold these melancholy objects. The 
steward, upon his return to the mountain, durst not men- 
tion his grief to Mademoiselle de Boutk, but concealed 
from her the horrid sight which he had witnessed. 

The Moors meanwhile divided the booty ; the richest 
stuffs were cut in pieces and distributed among the chil- 
dren to decorate their heads ; the silver plate was sold to 
the highest bidder, and three goblets, each of which was 
worth at least twenty pounds sterling, were sold in a lot 
Cor less than five shillings, because, being tarnished by the 
sea-water, the Moors, from their color, supposed them to 
be nothing but copper, and of little value. With respect 
to the books which they found, they regarded them as 
useless lumber, and were easily induced to resign them 
to the steward and the footman, whom they compelled io 
assist them in removing the packages. The steward like- 
wise saved his writing desk, which proved extremely use- 
ful, as we shall presently see. 

During the three weeks that they remained at this 
place, Mademoiselle de Bourk took advantage of the 
writing-desk, and a few leaves, of blank paper v* feien she 
found at the beginning and end of the books brought by 
the steward, to write three letters to the French consul at 
Algiers ; but none of them was received. Three weeks 
after their shipwreck they were removed into the midst 
of the lofty mountains of Couco, where the sheik, com- 
manding these barbarians, apparently resided. They 
were escorted by twelve of them, armed with sabres, 
fusils, and halberis. They obliged the abbe and the stew- 
'ard to carry the young lady alternately over the rugged 
mountains. Accustomed themselves to climb those pla- 
ces with rapidity, they urged them on with blows to walk 
faster than they were able. By these means they made 
a long days journey ; at night each of them received a 
piece of bread, and enjoyed the comfort of sleeping' upon 
boards for the first time. 

The sheik and chiefs of the Moors held a consultation 
respecting their captives ; but being unable to agree about 
the division of them, they resolved to send them back to 



2Z TIIE SHIPWRECK ©P 

the place whence they came. Before they departed, the 
steward having taking a little straw from some of the 
beasts near the spot, for his young mistress to lie upon, 
the master of the hut whs so enraged that he snatched up 
an axe, obliged him to lay his head down upon a block, 
and was about to strike the fatal blow, but was prevented 
by a Moor who accidentally entered. Three or four 
times a day, according to their barbarous • humor, they 
came and seized them by the throat, after shutting the 
door of the hut for fear of being interrupted, and with 
their sabres in their hands threatened them with instant 
destruction ; but an invisible power restrained their arms 
and repressed their fury. 

As they were still detained, notwithstanding the reso- 
lution that had been taken to send them back to their 
first master, the latter accompanied by a Turk from Bu- 
gie, came to fetch them ; but sixteen armed Moors, of 
the mountains, compelled him to resign them. The bar- 
barian, disappointed of his prey, seized the young lady 
and drew his sabre to cut off her head; but the Turk, by 
his remonstrances, prevailed upon him to desist from his 
sanguinary purpose. At length they were permitted to 
depart. Those who escorted them on their return, fired 
with religious zeal, or impelled by their Mood-thirsty dis- 
position, were ready every moment to sacrifice their ill- 
fated victims. On one occasion, among many. others, 
they took the abbe and the steward behind a thick bush 
to sacrifice them to their prophet ; but they once more 
escaped from this imminent danger. 

They arrived in the evening at the village, the scene of 
their dreary servitude. Here they frequently received 
only the raw leaves of turnips to eat, without bread. How- 
ever, the friendship which the children, by degrees, coi> 
ceived for the young lady, obtained her the indulgence of 
a little milk with her bread. 

At length a fourth letter, written by Mademoiselle tie 
Bourk to the consul, and the only one which came to hand, 
arrived at Algiers on the 24th of November, and was sent 
by the Dey to the French consul, who immediately com- 
municated iis contents to M. Desault. The unfortunate 
young lady there related, in a simple, but affecting man- 
ner, that, after the shipwreck of her mother, she and he? 



THE COUNTESS BE BOURK. 23 

suit had been consigned to the most frightful and abject 
slavery ; that they were dying of hunger, and subjection 
to every kind of ill treatment that could be inflicted by 
the enemies of religion and humanity; and that they 
were devoured by vermin. She Implored him instantly 
to take compassion on their misery and to send them some 
relief, till he was able to procure their liberty, of which 
the continual menaces of the barbarians tended to deprive 
them of all hope. This letter deeply affected all those 
who read it. Every one made an offer of hjs money and 
his services to M. Desault, who did not want much en- 
treaty on the subject, being intimately acquainted with 
the family of Mademoiselle de Bourk. He instantly, gave 
orders for the equipment of a French tartan lying in the 
port, purchased clothes and provisions, and obtained of 
the Dey a letter of recommendation to the grand mara- 
bout, or high priest of Bugie, who possesses the greatest 
authority over those people. He likewise wrote to the 
young lady, and sent her several presents. On the eve- 
ning of the same day the tartan set sail, -and in a short 
time arrived at Bugie. 

There, Ibrahim Aga, the national interpreter, sent by M. 
Desault, in the tartan, presented the Dey's and M. De- 
sault's letters to the grand marabout Though sick, the 
latter instantly rose from his bed, mounted his horse, with 
the marabout of Gigery, the interpreter, and six or seven 
other Moors, and proceeded to the mountains, which were 
five or six days journey from Bugie. Upon their arrival, 
the Moors, the masters of the captives, having descried 
the company at a distance, shut themselves up in their 
nut, to the number of ten or twelve, with drawn sabres. 
The marabouts knocked violently at the door, and asked 
where were the Christians. They received for answer, 
that they were at the extremity of the village ; but a Moor, 
who was within, made a sign that they were in the hut. 
The company immediately alighted, and ordered the door 
to be opened. The Moors then fled, and the marabouts 
entered. 

At the sight of them the slaves conceived that their last 
hour was come ; but their apprehensions were scon dis- 
pelled by the grand marabout, who went up to Mademoi- 
selle de Benrk and delivered the consul's letters, together 



24 THE SHIPWRECK OF 

with the provisions he had sent her. He and all his suite 
passed the night in the hut, and the next morning he sent 
the children of the Moors in quest of the fugitives. They 
came in compliance with his orders, and kissed his hand, 
according to their custom ; for the Moors entertain a pro- 
found veneration for their marabouts ; they fear them 
more than any other power, and their malediction is more 
formidable than all the menaces of Algiers ; and it is in 
the name of the .marabout, and not of God, that the poor 
ask charity. 

The grand marabout likewise sent for the governor of 
the mountains, and the chiefs of the huts composing the 
village. When they had assembled in that where he was, 
he informed them that the occasion of his visit was the re- 
lease of five French subjects who had escaped from ship- 
wreck ; that France being at peace with the kingdom of 
Algiers, they ought not, contrary to the faith of treaties, 
to detain these people, already too unfortunate in having 
lost their relatives and their property, without depriving 
them of their liberty and their lives; that though the 
mountain Moors. were not subject to the authority of Al- 
giers, yet they enjoyed the advantages of the peace with 
France : and lastly, that they would be guilty of great in- 
justice if they did not release them, having already ob- 
tained a rich booty from the wreck. The Moors, though 
their arguments were bad, defended themselves as well as 
they could. 

During this contest, the joy which had animated the 
wretched captives at the prospect of a speedy release 
from the horrors of slavery was gradually dispelled : — 
gloomy inquietude succeeded the ray of hope which had 
dawned upon their minds. But their consternati.n was 
extreme, when the interpreter told them, that the Moors, 
induced by the authority and reasons of the marabout, 
agreed.to set the slaves at liberty, upon condition that the 
sheik, or marabout, should retain the young lady ; saying 
that he intended her for a wife for his son, a youth about 
fourteen ; that he was not unworthy of her, and mat if she 
were even the daughter of the king of France, his son was 
her equal, being the offspring of the king of the moun- 
tains. This new incident appeared more distressing than 
a!) the others, and their captivity seemed less dreadfoj 



THE COUNTESS DE B0URK. Z^ 

than the necessity cf leaving their mistress, so yeimg, 
and without any kind of support, in the hands of the bar- 
barians. 

Notwithstanding all solicitations, the sheik remained in- 
flexible ; but at length the marabout, taking him aside, put 
into his hand a few sultans of gold, with the promise of 
more. The gold instantly rendered him more tractable, 
lie agreed to release all the captives for. the sum of nine 
hundred piastres, to be paid immediately, In concluding 
this bargain, the mountaineers declared to the deputies 
that their consent was the effect of the veneration they 
entertained for their marabouts, and did not originate from 
any fear of the Dey of Algiers. The marabout having 
left a Turk as an hostage, together with several jewels be- 
longing to his wives, departed with the five slaves. 
. They proceeded to Bugle, where they arrived on the 
9th of December, embarked the following day, and landed 
at Algiers on the loth, at day-break. The consul went 
to meet them, and conduct them from the port to the am- 
bassador's hotel, which was crowded with Christian?, 
Tm-ks, and even Jews. The ambassador received the 
young lady at the entrance into the court, and first con- 
ducted her to his chapel, where she heard mass, and then 
Te Deufil was sung to thank the Almighty for this happy 
deliverance. 

Scarcely any of the spectators could refrain from tears. 
Even the Turks and Jews appeared to be affected: In- 
deed, this young lady, not quite ten years of age, after en- 
during the hardships, privations, and distresses of slavery, 
detained a certain air of dignity ; her manners and expres- 
sions announced an excellent education, and manifested a 
i:ilmi superior to the cruel trials to which she had been 
jbxpcsed. The persons belonging to her suite declared 
thai she had always been the first to encourage them, and 
£ad frequently exhorted them rather to suffer death than 
to betray their fidelity to their God. 

After some days allowed to these unfortunate persons, 
and the Moors, by whom they were attended, to recruit 
themselves, the nine hundred piastres agreed to be paid, 
as the ransom of Mademoiselle de Bourk, and the per- 
sons of her suite, were delivered to the deputy of the 
L marabou! M. Besault likewise added some pre- 
C 



£6 THE SHIPWRECK OF, kc 

scnts for the marabout himself, and the other officers who 
had been concerned in the negociation. 

On the 3d Jan. 1720, Mademoiselle de Bourk, accom- 
panied by her uncle and female attennant, embarked in 
M. Desault's ship, and after a few ordinary accidents ar- 
rived at Marseilles on the 20th of March. Her uncle, 
the Marquis de Varenne, came to receive her from the 
hands of M. Desault. 

Mademoiselle de Bourk remained several years in the 
bosom of her family, till her marriage with the Marquis 

de T . She passed her life agreeably with him, and 

has not been dead many years. Her children, prior to 
the revolution, held a distinguished rank in Frovince. 



£7- 



NAS&AT1VE OF THE LOSS OW 

THE AMERICAN SHIP' HERCULES, 

CAFTAIN BENJAMIN STOUT J 

On the Coast of Cqffraria, the 16th of June, 17<86 



T* 



HE account of the fate of the American ship 
Hercules, (and of the adventures and sufferings of her 
crew,) which set out on her voyage from Bengal in the 
month of December, 1795, involves so much interest, as- 
cannot fail to prove extremely entertaining ; nor can it be 
better detailed than from the account given by the com- 
mander, Captain Benjamin Stout ; whose intention it was, 
to take in a private freight for Hamburgh, but not finding 
one that would answer his expectations. lie chartered his 
ship to the British East India Company, who were at that 
time busily employed in shipping rice for England. In- 
telligence having reached the settlements in India, that a 
failure of corn throughout the whole of Great-Britain was 
likely to produce a famine, the most active and laudable 
exertions were made in India to supply the markets at 
home with rice ; and he received on board upwards of 
nine thousand bags, with directions to proceed to London 
with every possible despatch. The crew, most of which 
having been engaged in India, consisted of Americans, 
Danes, Swedes, Dutch, Portuguese, but chiefly Lascars, 
amounting in the whole, men and boys, to about sixty - 
four. The necessary arrangement for the voyage being 
completed, they sailed from Sugar-Roads on the 17th of 
March, 1796. 

Nothing material occurred during the voyage until the 

1st of June following, at which time they reached the 

| latitude of about 35 south, and 23, 40 east long? iudc. It 



liien began to blow a gale from the westward, which 
obliged them to lay to under their mizen stay sail for six 
days. During this time the gale continued to blow from 
the west, but increased progressively until the Till, when 
the contentions of the sea and winds presented a scene of 
horror, of which, perhaps the annals of marine history 
gives us no example. " Although bred to the sea, (says 
Captain Stout,) from my earliest life, yet all I had ever 
fcoen before, all I had erer heard of or read, gave me no 
adequate idea of those sublime effects which the violence 
and raging of t}\e elements produce, and which, at this 
tremendous hour, seemed to threaten nature itself with 
dissolution." The ship raised on mountains of water, 
was in a moment precipitated into an abyss, where she 
appeared to wait until the coming sea raised her again 
into the clouds. The perpetual roaring of the elements 
echoing through the void, produced such an awful sen- 
sation in the minds of the most experienced of the sea- 
men, that several of them appeared for some time in a 
state of stupefaction ; and those less accustomed to the 
clangers of the sea added to this scene of misery by their 
shriekirigs and exclamations. 

The terrors of the day could only be surpassed by those 
of the night. When the darkness came on, it is impos- 
sible for man to describe, or human imagination to con- 
ceive, a scene of more transcendant and complicated 
horror. To fill up the measure cf their calamities, about 
the hour of midnight a sudden shift cf wind threw the 
ship into the trough of the sea, .which struck her aft, 
tore away the rudder, started the stern post from the hau- 
den ends, and shattered the whole of her stern frame. 
The pumps were immediately sounded, and in the course 
of a few minutes the water had increased to four feet. A 
gang was immediately ordered to the pumps, and the re- 
mainder were employed in getting up rice out of the run 
cf the ship, and heaving it overboard, in order, if possi- 
ble, to get at the leak. After three or four hundred bags 
were thrown into the sea, the principal leak was discov- 
ered, and the water poured in with astonishing rapidity. 
In order, therefore, to decrease as much as possible the 
influx of water, sheets, shirts, jackets, bales of muslin, 
and every thing of the like description were thrust into 



THE HERCULES. 29 

the aperture. Had not these exertions been attended 
with some success, the ship must certainly have gone 
down, although the pumps delivered iifty tons of water 
an hour. 

As the next day advanced, the weather began to mod- 
erate. The men worked incessently at the pumps, and 
every exertion was made to keep the ship afloat. They 
were at this time about two hundred miles from the east- 
ern coast of Africa. 

On the 9th, although the violence of the tempest had 
in a great measure subsided, yet the swell of the sea was 
tremendous. The long-boat was ordered cut; but the 
captain having reason to suspect that some of the crew 
would endeavor to make off with her, he directed the 
second mate and three seamen to take possession of her; 
at the same time giving them arms and express orders to 
shoot the first man who attempted to board her without 
his permission. They were also instructed to keep 
astern, but to stick by the ship until they came to an an- 
chor. 

The men having taken -their station in the boat, a raft 
was ordered to be made of all the large spars, which 
was accordingly done. The whole when lashed together 
measured about 35 feet in length, and 15 in breadth. 
At this time the captain apprehended the ship could not 
make the land, and being convinced, in case of her going 
down, that all the people could not be received into the 
long-boat, determined not to neglect any measure that 
presented even a chance of saving the whole. 

When the second mate was preparing to obey the ci- 
ders he had : received, and take command of the long- 
boat, the carpenter addressed the captain in a respectful 
manner, and earnestly intreated him to leave the ship. 
On being reprimanded for not attending to the pumps; 
the man burst into tears, and declared, that the whole 
of the stern frame was, shook and loosened in such a 
manner, that he expected every minute she would go 
down. The miserable appearance of this man, and the 
affecting tone of voice in which he delivered his appre- 
hensions, considerably increased the terror of the crew ; 
whereupon the captain thought it necessary to declare 
that he would perform his duty and stick to the ship until 
C'2 



30 LOSS OF 

he was convinced from his own observation that all 
hopes, of saving her was at an end. The carpenter re- 
peated his solicitations, when he was ordered to his post, 
and assured, at the same time, that unless he made 
every exertion to encourage the people in their duly at 
the pumps, he should be immediately thrown into the 
sea. He retired, and exerted himself afterwards with a 
manly perseverance. 

The captain was immediately addressed on the depar- 
ture of the carpenter by many "of the sailors, and on the 
same subject. They were so clamorous, and diffused 
so much in their opinions, that he was nearly going to ex- 
tremes with some of them. 

These circumstances are mentioned as a caution to 
future navigators, who are entrusted with a com- 
mand. They too frequently listen to the opinion of 
their people in time of danger, who are generally for quit- 
ting the ship, and taking to boats, masts, yards and spars 
formed into rafts, or whatever timbers they can lash to- 
gether; indeed, as the prejudices and sentiments of the 
common sailors on these occasions are so various, it is 
not to be supposed that any thing can arise, from such a 
mistaken con&ict, but confusion and misfortune. 

A crew, such as composed that of the Hercules, which 
consisted of people ^of various nations, require indeed 
from their commander a peculiar attention. It may hap- 
pen, that by humoring their religious prejudices at a par- 
ticular moment, an essential service may be obtained ; 
and the following remarkable anecdote will tend to elu- 
cidate this opinion. 

At a period when the tempest raged with the utmost 
violence, the captain directed -most of the crew below, 
particularly the Lascars, to work the pumps. One of 
them, however, was perceived coming up the gang-way, 
with a handkerchief in his hand ; and on being question- 
ed what he was about, he answered in a tone of voice 
that discovered a perfect confidence in the measure he 
proposed, that he was going to make an offering to his 
God. "This handkerchief," said he, "contains a cer- 
tain quantity of rice, and all the rupees I am worth; suf- 
fer me to lash it to the mizen-top, and rely upon it, Sir, 
we shall all be saved." The captain was going to ordev 



THE HERCULES. • 3! 

him back to the pumps, but recollecting that in so doing 
he might throw both him and his countrymen into a state 
of despondency, and thereby lose the benefits of their ex- 
ertions, he acquiesced. The lascar thanked him, antl he 
soon beheld the child of prejudice mount the tottering 
ladder without discovering a single apprehension. He 
lashed the hankerchief to the mizen top mast head, 
fearless of all danger, and arrived in safety on the deck. 
Confident now that his God was the Captain's friend, he 
went below to inform his brethren that he had done his 
duty ; all the lascars seemed transported with joy, em- 
braced their virtuous companion, and then labored at 
the pumps with as much alacrity and perseverance, as if 
they had encountered, before, neither apprehension nor 
fatigue. To their unceasing labors, was owing in a 
great measure, the preservation of his people. 

The shift of wind which threw the ship into the trough 
of the sea and tore away the rudder, was fortunately a 
squall of but short duration, not continuing above a quar- 
ter of an hour. Had it lasted but a little longer, the ship 
must have been torn to pieces. The wind come round 
to its former quarter, and moderated gradually. 

After the long boat had been delivered to the care of 
the second mate, and the raft completed, the captain held 
a consultation with the officers, and they were all deci- 
dedly of opinion, that it was impossible to save the ship, 
and that they had no other chance to preserve their lives, 
than to make the land and run her on shore. 

The people, when informed of the issue of this con- 
sultation, appeared to work with renovated spirits. This 
disposition was kept up by being assured they would 
soon be within sight of land, and that by constantly work- 
ing at the pumps, the ship would be kept afloat, until 
they reached the shore. 

She remained for some time unmanageable, frequent- 
ly standing with her head from the land, which all their 
efforts could not prevent, the captain got a rudder made 
out of the topmast, and fixed in the place of the one they 
had lost ; but it was found of little use without the help 
of the long-boat, which he ordered therefore to be hauled 
athwart her stern, and this served, although with the 
greatest difficulty, to get her head towards the shore, the 



32 LOSS OF 

wind being variable from the eastward. A cable could 
have been got out, that might have answered tolerably 
well to steer the ship ; but the people could not be spared 
from the pumps to attend roussing in on the tacles, or 
guise, as occasion might require. 

On the evening, however, of the 15th they discovered 
land at about six leagues distance. All on board at this 
moment expressed their joy in shouts and acclamations. 
The ship still kept Hearing the shore, with five feet water 
in her hold. 

On the 16th in the morning, being then about two miles 
from the land, and the wind from the westward, the cap- 
tain ordered the anchor to be let go, that a- last effort 
might be made to stop the leaks, and, if. possible, save 
the ship. But her stern was shattered in such a manner, 
that after holding another consultation with his officers, it 
was finally resolved to run the ship on the coast then op- 
posite to them. Another gale threatened them, and no 
time was to be lost. 

The captain immediately ordered his second mate, who 
was in the boat, to come on board,' and he then delivered 
into his cutody the ship's register, and all the papers of 
consequence he had. After providing him and his three 
men with water and provisions, he ordered him into the 
boat again, with directions to keep in the offing ; and that 
after they had run the ship on shore, provided they got 
safe to land, he would search for some inlet into which 
he might run with safety. They desired him also to look 
out for signals which would be occasionally thrown out 
from the shore to direct his course. The mate faithfully 
promised to obey his instructions, and then returned to 
his boat. 

They were now on the coast of Caffraria, within a few 
leagues where the Infanta river empties itself into the sea. 
A dreadful crisis approached, and they agreed to meet it 
with becoming fortitude. The captain therefore gave di- 
rections to set the head sail, to heave the spring well 
taught, in order to get her head towards the shore, and 
then to cut the cable and the spring. His orders were 
obeyed with the greatest promptitude. 

After running until within something lers than half a 
mile of the shore, she stuck on a clustrc cf rocks. The 



THE. HEKCTSLES. S3 

swell at this moment was tremendous ; and from the 
ship's thumping so violently, it was scarcely possible for 
the men to hold on. In this situation she remained for 
about three or four minutes, when a sea took her over the 
rocks, and carried her about a cable's length nearer the 
shore, where she again struck, and kept heaving in with 
a dreadful surf, which every moment made a breach over 
her. 

The lashings that held the raft having given way, and 
the spars carried to a considerable distance from the ship, 
they lost all hope from that quarter. At length one of • 
the crew, who was a black, plunged into the waves, and, 
by exertioiiSvWhich seemed more than human, gained and 
seated himself on the raft. He scarcely remained in that 
situation for ten minutes, when the whole was turned over 
and the man completely enveloped in the sea. In a few 
moments however, they perceived him in his former seat. 
Again he endured a similar misfortune ; and a third suc- 
ceeded. Still he buffetied the waves, and gained the raft, 
until at length, after suffering two hours of fatigue, which, 
until then, the captain could not possibly imagine human 
nature could' survive, he drifted on land. 

The natives who had kindled several fires, appeared in 
great numbers on the shore. They were mostly clothed 
in skins, armed with spears, and accompanied by a vast 
number of dogs. A party of them seized the man who 
had landed, and conducted him behind the sand hills that 
line the coast, and which hid him entirely from then view, 

Twelve of the crew now launched themselves 02a 
different spars, and whatever pieces of timber they could 
find. They braved all difficulties and at last gained the 
land. No sooner had they reached the beach than the 
natives came down, seized and conducted them also be- 
hind the sand-hills. As it was impossible for them who 
remained on board, to discover what they were about, 
and observing several parties of the natives appear at dif- 
ferent times on the shore, but not accompanied hy any of 
the people, they conceived ail those who had landed were 
massacred, and that a similar fate awaited the whole of 
them. They who had remained on board the ship were 
obliged to shelter themselves in the forecastle, as the 
wreck, becoming a fixed object, the sea made over her. 



and there was no other part, where they conld remain, 
even for a moment, in a state of security. 

Suspense and apprehension reigned during the whole 
of the night. Some were of opinion, that to avoid being 
tortured by the savages, perhaps thrown into the fires 
they had perceived on shore, it would be more advisable 
to resign themselves to a watry element, as in that situa- 
tion they should only endure a few struggles, and then 
life would be no more. Others entertained different sen- 
timents, and were for making the shore in as compact a 
body as possible. " We shall then," said they "attack 
the savages with stones, or whatever we can find." This 
was over- ruled as a measure impracticable; there was no 
possibility of six men keeping together ; but if such a 
number could, by a miracle, get on shore without being 
divided, the natives could destroy them in a moment with 
their spears. The whole of this miserable night was 
spent in such consultations ; and as the next sun was to 
Eght them to their fate, they trembled at its approaching 
the horizon. 

As soon as morning appeared, they looked towards the 
shore ; but not an individual was to be seen. Distrac- 
tion was now visible in every countenance, and what 
death to chocse, the principal consideration. At length 
about the hour of &ine, me scene changed in a moment. 
A delirium of exissy succeeded, which no pencil can 
portray, no being can conceive, but those who beheld it. 
AH the people who had landed the day before, were ob- 
served making towards the shore ; and tSr^ey soon per- 
ceived them beckoning and inviting them to land. In a 
few minutes, every spar, grating, and piece of timber 
that could be procured, were afloat, and completely oc- 
cupied; same with two people, others with more, ac- 
cording to the size. "I immediately (says the captain) 
stript off my shirt, put on a short jacket, wrapt a shawl 
round my waist, in the corner of which I put a gold 
watch, and keeping^my breeches on, seized a spar, and 
launched into the sea. For nearly three quarters of an 
hour I preserved my hold, and drifted towards the shore. 
Sometimes I was cast so near, as to touch the rocks with 
my fcvt, then hurried away to a considerable distance : 
a^ain I was precipitated forward, and 'm a moment after 



THE H££CULE3. $5 

wards earned off by the returning sea. At length a sod- 
den jerk, occasioned by the swell, strained boih my arms, 
and I was compelled to quit the spar. At this instant, al- 
though a considerable distance from the beach, a wave 
that was proceeding rapidly towards the shore, bore me 
along, and in a few moments cast me senseless on the 
sand. My people who were on shore, observed my sit- 
uation ; they ran down, and snatching me from the dan- 
ger of the coming waves, bore me to a place of security. 
I was insensible at this time, but soon revived, as they pla- 
ced me near a fire, and used every means in their power 
for my recovery. The first subject of inquiry, when my 
faculties returned, was, of course, the fate of my unfortu- 
nate crew; and I enjoyed the heartfelt pleasure of be- 
holding them all around me, except them in the long-boat 
and one man, who perished near the shore. I then ad- 
dressed myself to the natives ; but on this occasion I la- 
bored under the difficulty of not being understood. I 
"Knew nothing of their language, and for some time I en- 
deavored to explain myself by signs. Fortunately 
there was a Hottentot present, who had lived with the 
Butch farmers, and could speak their language. My 
third mate was a Dutchman, and these served as inter- 
preters. 

" This difficulty being happily removed, I endeavored 
by every means in my power to secure the friendship cf 
the natives. I thanked them in the name of my whole 
crew, and on the part of nty nation, for the liberal and 
humane assistance they had afforded us in the hour of our 
misfortune, and solicited their future kindness and sup- 
port. 

" This being, as I conceived, at no great distance from 
the spot where the Grosvenor was lost in 1782, I inquired 
of the natives whether any of them remembered such a 
Catastrophe. Most of them answered in the affirmative, 
and, ascending one of the sand-hills, pointed to the place 
where the Grosvenor suffered. 

" I then desired to know of them, whether they had 
received any certain accounts respecting the fate of Cap- 
tain Coxson, who commanded the Grosvenor, and who 
was proceeding on his way to ihc Cape, with several men 
and women passengers, who were saved from the wreck. 



36 toss of Wm:- 

They answered, that Captain Coxson and his men were 
slain. One of the chiefs having insisted on taking two of 
the white ladies to his kraal, the captain and people re- 
sisted, and not being armed, were immediately destroyed. 
The natives, at the same time, gave me to understand, 
that at the period when the Grosvenor was wrecked, their 
nation was at war with the colonists ; and as the Captain 
and his crew were whites, they could not tell, provided 
they had reached the Christian farms, but they would as- 
sist the colonies in the war. This affected my situation 
so directly, that I desired to know on what terms the Caf- 
frees and the colonists then stood. " We are friends," 
said they, " and it will be their fault if we are not always 
so." 

" This answer relieved me from a very serious embar- 
rassment ; but the fate of the two unfortunate ladies gave 
use so much uneasiness, that I most earnestly req nested 
of them to tell me all they knew of their situation ; whether 
they were alive or dead ; and ii' living, in what part of the 
country they were situated. They replied, and with ap- 
parent concern, that one of the ladies had died a short 
time after her arrival at the kraal; but they understood 
:er was living, and had several children by the chief. 
" Where she now is," said they, " we know not." 

" After I had received every possible information on 
this melancholy subject, we employed ourselves princi- 
pally during the remainder of the day in assisting the na- 
tives to save whatever came on shore from the wreck. 
When they got a- piece of timber, they placed it immedi- 
ately on the fire, as the readiest method of procuring the 
iron, which they sought after with the most persevering 
diligence." 

When night came on, the natives retired, and they left 
us to sleep under the sand-hills, without covering, and 
without food. The weather was boisterous, and a strong 
wind from the westward, and the cold severe : a consul- 
tation was held in what manner they should dispose of 
themselves until the morning, and they at length resolved 
that some of them should keep watch during the night, 
and the rest place themselves nearr the fnv. and, if passi- 
ble, obtain a little rest. 



THE HERCULES. 37 

The night passed without any of the unfortunate suffer- 
ers enjoying a moment of repose. Their bodies on one 
side were heated by the fire, but the cold chilled the 
other in such a manner, as to render the pain hardly sup- 
portable. The sand, driven by the winds in prodigious 
quantities, filled their eyes, ears, and mouths, as they lay 
under the banks, and kept them in perpetual motion. 
They likewise entertained apprehensions respecting the 
natives. 

At length day appeared, and the Caffrees returned in 
great numbers. The chief knowing they were in want of 
food, brought a bullock, which they immediately slaugh- 
tered by knocking the animal on the head with clubs, and 
penetrating its sides with their spears. It was skinned 
almost in a moment, and they cut it up in lumps, which 
they placed on the fire to singe, rather than to roast, and 
then devoured their respective shares with the highest sa- 
tisfaction. The beast, as it was given to the famished 
crew, it might be supposed, would be left for their own 
disposal ; but the Caifrees were hungry, and they knew 
nothing of European etiquette. It is true, they presented 
the bullock to them as a donation ; but they saw no rea- 
son why they should not dispose of the greater part of it. 

On cutting up the animal, it was observed they paid 
more than ordinary attention to the paunch. Several of 
the Caffrees laid violent hands on it<; and after giving it a 
shake for the purpose of emptying the contents, they tore 
the greater part in slits with their teeth, and swallowed the 
whole as it came warm from the beast. 

Their meal, such as it was, being finished, part of the 
crew proceeded to the shore, and the long-boat was ob- 
served at a considerable distance. The ship was dividing 
very fast, and the gale increasing ; many things were there- 
fore cast on shore, which the Caffrees were indefatigable 
in procuring. A cask, however, was thrown on the beach, 
which considerably excited the captain's anxiety : it con- 
tained sixty gallons of rum, a quantity sufficient ; 3 have 
intoxicated the whole of the natives, although they amount- 
ed to at least 300. The predilection for such liquor is 
well known, and the consequences of their intoxication 
wars particularly dreaded by the captain. The only way 
left was to steal 'to the spot where the cask lay, and stave 
D 



33 LOSS OF 

In the head without being perceived by them. This was 
happily accomplished, and they afterwards stripped the 
vessel of the iron hoops, without discovering what had 
been done, or what it formerly contained. 

In the general search on the shore, one of the Caffreei 
had picked up the ship's compass. Not knowing what 
it was, yet pleased with its formation, he delivered it to 
the chief, who immediately took it to pieces ; and after 
contemplating the various parts, took the copper ring in 
which it hung, and suspended it from his neck. He ap- 
peared higlny pleased with the ornament ; and this cir- 
cumstance induced the captain to present him with one 
still more glittering, and of course, in his estimation, 
more valuable; recollecting that he had in his possession 
a pair of paste knee-buckles, he presented them to the 
chief, and hung one upon, each of his ears. 

The moment this was done, the jchief stalked about 
with an air of uncommon dignity*. His people seemed 
to pay him greater reverance than before, and they were 
employed for some time in gazing at the brilliancy of the 
ornaments, and contemplating the august deportment of 
their chief magistrate. 

Towards evening the captain again addressed the chief 
on the subject of their departure. He requested he 
would send a guide with them through the deserts to the 
first Christian settlement, and that nothing should be 
wanting on his part to recompense his kindness. The 
Caffree paused for a moment, and then very coolly re- 
replied, that he would gratify the captain's wishes ; and 
being desired to name the time when he would suffer 
them to depart ; he gravely answered, " When I consid- 
er that matter you shall be made acquainted with my dc^ 
termination.*' These answers alarmed the unfortunate 
sufferers. The countenance of the savage appeared to 
discover some hostile measure that was lurking in his 
mind ; and yet his former conduct was so liberal and hu- 
mane, uiat they had no just grounds for suspecting his in- 
tegrity. ' The natives, however, were perceived consult- 
ing together in parties, and from their gestures -nothing 
favorable could be perceived. When the day was 
drawing to a close, the crew was left to rest under the 
sand-hills, as on the former night. 



THE HERCULES. 3§ 

'The fire was recruited with some timber from the 
Wreck, and sentinels placed as before. The wind blow- 
ing hard from tHe same quarter, they were again tor- 
mented with clouds of sand, and a chilling atmosphere. 
June being one of the whiter months, they had to en- 
counter the seventies of the season. It was impossible 
to shift their quarters, as they could not procure timber to 
light new fires, and the Caffrees might be displeased at 
their not remaining in their former situation. The night 
passed in consultations and gloomy predictions. The 
captain told his people not to do any thing that 
might have the least tendency to displease the natives ; 
to give them every tning they asked for, as the inhabi- 
tants of these deserts were only to be dreaded when 
provoked. But, at the same time, if contrary to their 
expectation they made an attack, or endeavored to de- 
tain them after a certain time, then he hoped they would 
firmly unite, and either force their way or perish in the 
conflict. 

When the sun made its appearance, they mounted the 
most elevated of the sand-sills to look out for the k>sg? 
boat ; but she was not to be discovered in any direction. 
In a short time they perceived the Caffrees advancing. 
Most of them had assagays in their hands; others fur-- 
ftished with clubs ; some were decorated with ostiitch 
feathers, and their chief wearing a leopard skin, with the . 
captain's knee-buckles suspended as before. They salu- 
ted the crew in a very friendly manner, and were accom? 
panied by them to the beach. The wind had increased 
during the night and several parts of the ship came on 
shore. One of the people had picked up a hand saw, 
and as he perceived the Caffrees were indefatigable in 
procuring iron, he hid it in the sands. — This was a valu- 
able acquisition, and became of infinite service to tl %;m 
in the course of their proceedings. 

Having secured all they could obtain from the wreck, 
the captain requested the chief to order some of his 
people to display their skill in the use of the assagays. 
This is a spear of about four feet six inches in length, 
made of an elastic wood, and pointed with iron, which the 
natives contrive to poison so effectually, that if it wounds 
either man or beast, death is the inevifcMe consequence. 



40 L03S OF 

The captain's wishes were immediately gratified. The 
Caffrees first placed a block of wood on the ground, and 
then retired about seventy yards from the spot where it 
lay. The chief then said, they would now behold their 
manner of fighting when engaged in battle. These com- 
pliances, as they seemed to remove former suspicions, 
gave great satisfaction to the sufferers. A party of 
about thirty began their manoeuvring. They first ran to 
a considerable distance ; then fell, as if motionless, on 
the ground; in a moment they started up, divided, joined 
again, and ran into a compact body to the spot from 
whence they originally set out. After halting for about a 
minute, they let fly a shower of assagays at the mark, and 
with a precision that was truly astonishing. 

Not a word more passed this day about the departure 
cf the crew. The natives retired as usual on the ap- 
proach of night. All were employed to gather wood ; 
and after procuring a sufficient quantity, they stretched 
iheiriselves. on the ground, and in spite of wind, sand, and 
cold, slept until morning. 

When day appeared, all were again employed in look- 
ing out for the long-boat ; but she was not to be seen, nor 
did they ever hear of her again. 

The Caffrees did not make their appearance this day 
until the sun had proceeded two hours in its course. 
As little now was to be procured from the wreck, Captain 
Stout begged the chief to appoint a guide for himself and 
crew, as he proposed taking his departure on the next 
day. " I shall furnish you with two," said the chief. 
These joyful tidings were delivered with so much frank- 
ness, that the captain was relieved at once from all apj;ie- 
hension and suspicion. 

Desirous of having the Hottentot who served as an in- 
to eter to accompany them through the desert, the 
chief was given to understand how much the services of 
this man would not only contribute to their pleasure, but 
aiso to their safety. The honest savage, however, had 
anticipated their wishes ; he had previously mentioned it 
to Hie Hottentot, who had consented to proceed to the 
first Christian farm. Another of the tribe, who was bet- 
ter acquainted with the country, had likewise agreed to 
be of the party ; and this information which was commit- 



THE HERCULES. 41 

nicated to the crew, diffused a general joy and satisfac- 
tion. 

After assuring the chief and the Caffrees in general of 
our unalterable friendship, and that the guides should b^ 
rewarded to the extent of their wishes, " I told him, 
(says the captain,) we had endured great distress for want 
of water, and begged to know where we could procure 
some." " I will conduct you," said he " to a spring o? 
excellent water ; it is not far from' this place ; and, if 
you think proper, we will proceed directly to the spot." 
No sooner was the proposal made than we set out ; the 
Coffrees singing and dancing as they proceeded, and my 
people although not without suspicion, in tolerable spirits." 

After travelling westward about four miles through a 
delightful country, they came at last to a wood, in the bo- 
som of which was discovered a hollow. The Caffrees 
descended first, and when they all arrived at the bottom, 
the chief pointed to the brook. They drank of the wa- 
ter and found it delicious. After allaying their thirst, they 
looked about and'from the dismal appearance of the place, 
were again in a state of apprehension. Being mostly of 
opinion, that nothing less was intended by the Caffrees 
than to massacre the whole party in this sequestered place ; 
that they were decoyed here for the purpose; and that 
every man should prepare to defend his life. The cap- 
tain, however, endeavored to quiet their apprehensions, 
and at last succeeded; 

The Caffrees having invited the party to remain on this 
spot during the night, they began to prepare wood for the 
fires. All hands went to work, and by the assistance of a 
hand-saw, they procured some dry trees and underwood, 
that afforded a very comfortable fire. One of the Hotten- 
tots, who was so rich as to possess a tinder-box, struck a 
light ; and this accommodation being not only highly use- 
ful, but unexpected, gave new spirits to the whole party. 

The natives, as the night came on, did not retire as usual 
to their kraal. This gave a fresh alarm, which did not 
appear to be without some cause ; situated as the party 
then were, they were obliged to abide the event, and there- 
fore prepared for the worst that could happen. The watch 
was set as formerly; but the Caffrees huddling together, 
were soon lost in sleep. This place, however dismal in 
D2 



42 LOSS OF 

its appearance, afforded a tolerable shelter for the night ; 
clouds of sand were no longer troublesome, and the sever- 
ities of the wind and cold were mitigated by the friendly 
shade afforded by the trees. 

" We were roused," says the captain, " by the savages, 
as the sun appeared, and we departed from this supposed 
Golgotha in tolerable spirits. We had, however, consum- 
ed the last pound of our bullock, before we left the sand- 
hills, and our party began to dread an approaching famine. 
I mentioned the distress of my people to the chief, and he 
promised to relieve us. We had journeyed but a few 
miles, when the Caffrees tolii us we must remain where 
we were that night. We accordingly set to work to pro- 
cure fire-wood, and had scarcely completed this necessary 
business, when the chief presented us with another bul- 
lock. It was soon despatched, skinned, cut into pieces 
of about four pounds each, and we then 1 proceeded to 
dress them as provision for our journey. This was a bu- 
siness of so much importance, that most of the day was 
spent in accomplishing it. 

" The night passed with less apprehension than before, 
and when the morning came, we prepared for our de- 
parture. 

" The moment now arrived when the real intentions of 
the Caffrees were to be developed. The natives came 
about us, and assisted in dividing the provisions. Each 
man was to carry his own stock, which amounted to about 
three or four pounds of beef; this, with some biscuits, 
which a few of my people had contrived to preserve from 
the wreck, was to serve us until we reached a Christian 
settlement. So far from any appearance of hostility, the 
natives seemed to view our departure with regret. I took 
the chief by the hand, and thanked him for his great and 
friendly attentions to me and my unfortunate crew ; assur- 
ing him at the same time, that if I survived the journey, 
if would ever be my first consideration to render him and 
his people some essential service. He thanked me, and 
then requested I would tell the colonists our ship was 
lost at sea, and so distant from the land, that no part of 
her could possibly reach the shore. He also desired me 
to place the utmost confidence in my guides, as they 
would certainly direct me for the best. After my people 



THE HERCULES, 48 

and the natives had exchanged some mutual civilities, we 
parted, and gave one another a last and affectionate adieu." 

They did not take their departure on the morning of 
the 23d until the sun was well up. The guides were in- 
telligent, and gave them to understand that they must on 
no account travel early, as the wild beasts constantly rose 
with the sun, and then ranged the deserts in quest of their 
prey. As they were all unarmed, a single lion, leopard, 
or panther, could have destroyed most of them. It be- 
came, therefore, highly necessary they should not stir un- 
til these animals had satisfied their hunger, and were retir- 
ed for the day. 

Notwithstanding this cautious and necessary advice* 
and which was given with a laudable earnestness for their 
preservation, still the people were so desirous of getting 
on, that they grew uneasy ; but the guards could not be 
induced to quit the fires until about nine o'clock, at which 
time they all proceeded, and in good spirits. 

Not more than three or four of the party were at this 
moment in possession of shoes. They had many hun- 
dred miles to travel through unknown countries, to ascend 
mountains of stupendous elevation, penetrate woods, tra- 
verse deserts, and ford rivers ; and yet they were to combat 
all these difficulties bare-footed, not having saved above 
four pair of shoes, and even these but in sad condition. 

" As my feet were naked," says the captain, " like most 
of my people, one of them offered me an old pair of boots 
which he then wore; but I refused them. My habili- 
ments were a short jacket, a table cloth, which I found 
on the shore, wrapt round my loins ; a shawl over it ; four 
shirts, which I wore at the same time ; a pair of trowsers, 
and a hat. We bore to the westward on our setting out, 
for the purpose of obtaining fresh water in the course of 
our journey. Our guides observed, that near the coast 
the water was generally brackish; we therefore struck 
into the interior, and were not entirely disappointed in our 
expectations." 

They now travelled through a country beautifully vari- 
egated with hills, dales, extensive plains finely watered, 
but less wooded than the former. The grass appeared of 
an extraordinary height; but in the course they pursued, 
not a human foot-step could be traced j no cattie, nar 



44 LOSS OP 

sign of cultivation could be observed. They were not 
interrupted by any beast of prey* although they con- 
stantly perceived their dung. At length, after travelling 
about thirty-five miles, they began to feel the want of 
water. 

Having searched for this indispensable aliment, with 
the utmost anxiety and attention, they were so fortunate 
as to discover, before sun-set, a brook that ran near the 
corner of a wood ; and here they determined to rest for 
the night. They began, therefore, to prepare a sufficient 
quantity of fuel. The wood was chiefly composed of 
trees that partook in some degree of the nature of thorn : 
they cut several, and arranged their fires. One of the 
Caffrees struck a light, and the whole, in a few minutes, 
was in a blaze. The tinder which he provided was of a 
particular description ; it consisted of a pitchy substance, 
extracted from a reed, and so tenacious of fire, that a 
single spark from the steel caught it in a moment. The 
weather being cold, they resolved to sleep close to one 
another ; but the guides told them, the place they had 
fixed upon to rest during the night was known to be in- 
fested with leopards, and that, if they scented the party, 
nothing could prevent them from destroying some of 
them. This intelligence induced them to enlarge their 
fires, and they began to consult upon other measures 
that were likely to contribute also to their preservation. 
But such is the powerful influence of Morpheus over the 
harrassed soul, that their conversation had scarcely com- 
menced on tliis important subject, when they were all 
relieved from any sense of danger, by gently falling into 
a sound sleep, in which they remained in perfect security 
until morning. 

No sooner had the sun peeped above the horizon, than 
they were all roused by the tremendous roaring of lions. 
Never were men in a situation more truly alarming. — 
Had they discovered them during the night, they must 
have been torn to pieces when sleeping, as not an indi- 
vidual could attend the watch, or keep awake even for 
an hour. They therefore congratulated one another 
on rinding they had all escaped, and set out about seven 
in the morning in company with their guides. — They 
soon arrived at the bank of a small river, which being 



THE HERCULES. 45 

perfectly dry, they crossed without difficulty. Shortly 
after they came to another, which they likewise passed in 
a few minutes. They reached at length some islands, 
from the tops of which they discovered several beautiful 
vales, clothed with long dry grass, and clusters of trees, 
in other places, forests of considerable extent, and skirt- 
ing mountains of different elevations. In the course of 
the day they were in great distress for want of water, and 
lost much time in the pursuit of it. Indeed they almost 
despaired of finding any, as the earth appeared so dry as 
to exhaust all the brooks they had visited. Lucidly, 
however, about sun-set, they discovered a small rivulet 
that ran near the skirt of a forest ; and, although the 
water was not good, yet it still relieved them from a 
dreadful situation. 

Having travelled this day about thirty miles, they de- 
termined to remain where they were during the night. 
All hands, therefore, went immediately to work, for the 
purpose of getting fuel. They had seen no wild ani- 
mals in the course of the day, but frequently observed 
the dung of the elephant and the rhinoceros. 

As their situation for this night was as dangerous and 
deplorable as on the preceding one, they determined to 
enlarge their tires, as the only means of safety they had 
left. This was accordingly done, and they had the pleas- 
ure to find, when the day appeared, that not an individual 
was missing of the whole party. 

They proceeded on their journey shortly after sunrise-; 
and, as they were to travel through a wood of considera- 
ble extent, the guides told them to be upon their guard, 
as they would certainly be interrupted by wild animals, 
which resorted to that place in prodigious numbers. 
They determined, notwithstanding, to brave all dan- 
gers, and accordingly proceeded. They indeed escap- 
ed the lions, the panthers, the rhinoceros, the elephant, 
&cc. but, unfortunately, about noon, came up with a 
horde of Caffrees, that were distinguished, by their own 
countrymen, as a bad tribe. They spoke at first to some 
Caffree women, who behaved kindly, and gave them 
one or two baskets of milk. These baskets are made 



46 LOSS OF 

Having proceeded but a short way, after receiving 
tYis instance of female liberality, they were stopt by 
twelve Caffree men, armed with spears, and clothed in 
leopard skins. Their guides, alarmed at the appearance 
of these savages, flew to the banks of the great Ash riv- 
er, which at that time was not more than two hundred 
yards from the place where they stood. They repeated- 
ly called on them to return, but in vain ; they immedi- 
ately crossed the bed of the river, which was dry, and 
having reached the opposite shore ascended an adjoining 
mountain with the utmost precipitation. The savages 
brandished their spears, and appeared by their gestures 
to menace the destruction of the people. They could 
not understand them, but supposed they demanded 
from them whatever articles they possessed ; and as 
these principally consisted of the little stock of provi- 
iions they had left, and their clothes, they determined 
not to part with either. 

One of the captain's people had a knife, which was 
slung over his shoulder. A Caffree perceiving it, made 
a snatch at the handle ; but the owner resisting it, he 
Jbst his hold. This so enraged the savage, that he lifted 
up his assagay with an apparant intention of despatching 
the object of his resentment. At the moment he stood 
in this attitude, a more finished picture of horror, or 
what may be conceived of the infernals, was perhaps 
never seen before. The savage wore a leopard's skin ; 
his black countenance bedaubed with red ochre ; his 
eyes, inflamed with rage, appeared as if smarting from 
their sockets ; his mouth expanded, and his teeth gnash- 
ing and grinning with all the fury of an exasperated 
demon. He was, however, diverted from his purpose, 
and dropped the assagay. 

The crew instantly proceeded to the river, and cross- 
ed it in pursuit of their guides, who were standing on 
the summit of the mountain ; when they came up, the 
guides expressed the utmost satisfaction at their escape. 
They gave them a terrible description of the people 
they had just left, and assured them, if the remainder of 
their horde had not been hunting at the time they got 
to the fish river, not a man of them would have surviv- 



THE HERCULES. 4$ 

-cil. They also declared, that they -were the most abomi- 
nable horde throughout the whole of Canraria. 

Their conversation lasted bin 1 a few minutes, when 
they resolved to decend the mountain, and pursue their 
journey. Scarcely had they put themselves in motion. 
When a scene of the most extensive and luxuriant beau- 
ties burst in a moment on their view. The danger they 
Jhad just escaped, engaged their attention so entirely, 
when they gained the summit, that they did not immedi- 
ately perceive the world of beauties that now lay spread 
before them. All stood for some time in a state of rap- 
ture and amazement. The country was mostly a level, 
yet pleasingly diversified with gentle elevations, on the 
tops of which they could perceive clumps of the mimosa 
tree, and the sides clothed with shrubs of various denom- 
inations. A thousand rivulets seemed to meander 
through this second Eden.; frequently skirting or ap- 
pearing to encircle a plantation of wood ; then sudden- 
ly taking a different direction, gilded through a plain of 
considerable extent, until it came to a gentle declivity ; 
here it formed a natural cascade, and then, following 
its course, proceeded in an endless variety throughout 
the whole of the country. 

As they stood gazing on this sylvan scene, they per- 
ceived innumerable herds of animals, particularly of 
the species of the gazelle, scouring over the plains ; 
some darting through the woods, others feeding, or 
drinking at the rivulets. As far as the eye travelled in 
pursuit of new beauties, it w r as mOst amply gratified, 
until, at length the whole gradually faded on the view, 
and become lost on the horizon. They were so wrapt 
in exiacy on this landscape, that they forgot their danger, 
and remained too long upon the mountain. They at 
length descended, and proceeded on their journey. 

Before the day closed they fixed on a place where 
they were to remain untill the morning. It was near a 
wood, mostly composed of that kind of thorn already 
mentioned. Several of these they immediately cut, imt 
, only for the purpose of fuel, but to form a barricade or de- 
fence against the wild animals during the night. 

After completing their fortification, lighting the fires, 
and supping in the best manaer possible, they lay dowa 



43 LOS-S OF 

to rest ; but their sleep was constantly disturbed during 
the night, by a herd of elephants brushing through the 
wood, passing and re%irning almost every moment. 
Had not the fence be6n erected the preceding evening, 
they would in all probability, have been trampled to 
death by these monstrous animals. They had the good 
fortune however to escape ; and, about seven the next 
morning, proceeded on their journey, in company with 
the guides. 

They travelled this day through a delightful country. 
The land, in some places, seemed to be composed of a 
red and yellow clay, and the valleys appeared covered 
with a very thick and long grass, but not a sign of agri- 
culture was to be ohserved. In the course of the day, 
they perceived a few deserted huts, one of which they 
entered, but paid severely for their curiosity, as those 
who ventured in, were in a moment entirely covered 
with fleas. 

Water was found sometimes, but it was brackish, al- 
though they were at least 50 miles from the sea. They 
kept at this distance during most of the journey. 

They brought up for the night, after traveling about 
35 miles, at the skirt of a small forest, and provided 
fuel, with a temporary defence, as before. The pro- 
visions being nearly exhausted, they were obliged to 
eat sparingly, although most of them were ravenously 
hungry. 

About seven in the morning, they again set out ; but 
many of the people dropt a-stern in the course of the 
(lay, being almost worn out with fatigue. In this situa- 
tion it was thought advisable for such of the party as 
could travel, to get forward, and provide a place where 
wood and water could be had. The captain was of this 
company ; and that all those who remained behind might 
find their way, he ordered the Caffree guides to set fire 
to the long grass, which served during (lie night as a point 
of direction. He was likewise in expectation of their 
coining up before morning, but was sadly disappointed. 
They remained stationary until the sun appeared, and 
then went on. 

Not one of the people left behind appeared this morn- 
ing ; but the guides were of opinion they would reach a 



THE HERCULES. %9 

Christian settlement in the course of the day, where 
assistance would certainly be had. This intelligence 
gave them new spirits ; and they travelled with an unu- 
sual alertness, until they came to a farmhouse. Here 
relief was expected, but none was to be found : the 
whole place had been deserted for some time ; they 
were obliged, therefore, to sleep again in the air, and 
leave their absent and miserable companions to all the 
horrors of the desert. 

This was not a night of sleep, but lamentation. They 
«at round the fire, and spoke of nothing but their absent 
messmates, and their unfortunate situation. They were 
left defenceless, without food, hardly able to <:tand erect, 
and in a country where the ferocious animals were most 
numerous. They were Likewise every hour in danger of 
an attack from the Boshis-men, who swarm in these parts, 
and destroy the unhappy objects of their vengeance by 
arrows that are poisoned. The sensibility of the people 
on this melancholy occasion,, displayed the genuine char- 
acter of a sailor. Men who could brave all the dangers 
of the tempest, and face death without a trembling nerve, 
even in the cannon's mouth, could not, however, speak 
of their distressed and absent brethren without a tear. 
Their own misfortunes were forgotten, and their only 
consideration, during the night, was their unhappy mess- 
mates, whom they never expected to behold again. 

They remained here for more than an hour after the 
rising of the sun. Out of sixty, that composed the 
party, when they departed from the beach, thirty-six 
were so maimed and worn down by fatigue, as to be un- 
able to travel : these remained in the desert, if not al- 
ready destroyed, and had no nope of preservation, but by 
the exertions of the party who were able to proceed ; the 
guides were now certain that a Christian habitation was at 
hand. The last we saw had been destroyed by the -Caf- 
frees during the war with the colonists : It was, there- 
fore, determined to proceed to a place where relief 
could be obtained, with every possible despatch. My 
people proceeded with redoubled energy : the salvation 
of their companions was the incentive, and that consid- 
eration banished eYery idea of danger or fatigue. 
E 



50 LOSS OF 

They travelled without a single halt for about three 
horns, when one of the guides, who was advanced, 
roared out, in a transport of joy, " I see a Hottentot, 
attending a flock of sheep." It was the voice of a 
seraph proceeding from a Caffree. They all ran to the 
place where he stood, and, at a considerable distance, 
observed a man attending a flock of at least four thpu- 
sand. They moved in a body towards the shepherd, 
who seemed at first to be alarmed ; but perceiving they 
were most whites, and unarmed, he stopt until they 
came up. The captain requested of him to direct them 
the nearest way to the first settlement, which he did, and 
at the same time informed us, the proprietor was a good 
man; the distance, he said, was about three miles. 
The pleasure diffused throughout the party, on receiving 
this information, it is impossible to describe. The cap- 
tain embraced this opportunity, and went on ; a gene- 
ral joy succeeded, and who should be foremost, the 
principal consideration! 

At length — extatic reflection — they came within sight 
of a Christian farm. " Come on, my lads," said the 
captain, " we are safely moor'd at last ; and our people, 
In the deserts, will be soon relieved." Some tottered as 
they stood, overcome by joy, and could not move ; oth- 
ers appeared as in a trance, until at length about tea 
followed him, and they entered the house of Jan du 
Pliesies. 

Fortunately, this was a settler of the best order, about 
years old, born in Holland, but had resided in Af- 
[ lea for many years ; humane, generous, and possessing 
» heart that appeared to be the constant mansion of at 
virtuous sympathy. His cottage was formed of clay, 
thatched with a kind of reed, and furnished with a few 
stools, a table, and some kitchen utensils. His family 
consisted of rive or six sons, their wives and children, 
together with a daughter, making together about twenty 
people. His stock, however, was considerable, not 
less than twelve thousand sheep, and one thousand 
oxen. 

After the alarm, which their first appearance oc*a- 

sioned, had subdued, the captain told the story of Iheir 

. id implored his ussisUmce for the 



THE HERCtfLES. 51 

relief of the unhappy people who were left behind. 
This good man could not listen to the relation without 
discovering by his countenance the tenderness of his 
nature . His face, which was naturally pallid, became, 
at certain intervals, of a crimson hue : these emotions 
appeared as the effervescence of sensibility, and to ex- 
hibit, in glowing colors, the complexion of virtue. 

As no time, he said, should be lost in preparing for 
the relief of the unfortunate people, he immediately 
directed two of his sons to harness eight oxen to a 
waggon. His orders were obeyed with a cheerfulness 
that evinced an hereditary goodness, and that it had de- 
scended, unimpaired, from the sire to his children. 
They were directed to travel all night ; and the guides 
described the spot, so minutely, as to avoid all possibili- 
ty of a mistake. The waggon was soon out of sight, 
and they all sat down to , partake of a sheep, which 
our liberal host had ordered to be killed for their enter- 
tainment. 

When the meal was over, the worthy * colonist began 
to interrogate them respecting their journey through 
Caffraria. He could not possibly conceive, he said, 
bow the Tambochis could be induced to suffer their 
departure. They were such a horrid race, that nothing 
was so gratifying to their nature as the shedding of hu- 
man blood. The Boshis-men he also observed, were so 
numerous, and so perpetually on the look-out, that he 
was amazed at their travelling with any degree of secu- 
rity ; but when he considered that they came through a 
part of Caffraria, so infested with carnivorous animals, 
that people could never travel safely but in parties, and 
well armed, he declared their being then in his house 
appeared to him a kind of miracle. 

The captain took this opportunity of giving our wor- 
thy host a proper idea of the Tambochis. His mind 
had been poisoned by some of his dep* -edatiog neigh- 
bors, and never going on such parties himself, bed en- 
tertained these prejudices without having an opportunity 
of knowing the contrary. He appeared much pTeafeed 
at the conduct of the Tambochis, during our abode in 
their country, and declared thus circumstance alone 
would relieve him from many hours of uneasiness. 



£>2- LOSS OP 

His sequestered mansion was nearly surrounded by 
trees, on which were hung to dry, the skins of lions, 
tigers, panthers, and other destructive animals, killed in 
the vicinity of his own habitation. The carcases of two 
enormous creatures were observed lying near the door, 
which had the appearance of being recently destroyed. 
They were two rhinoceroses that the farmer's sons had 
killed, but the day before, on their own land. This 
(gave rise to a narrative respecting these animals, which 
the good man related with great circumspection, and 
which appeared very extraordinary. 

" These creatures, said the farmer, are more savage, 
and infinitely more to be dreaded, than any other ani- 
mal of the deserts. Even the lion, when he perceives 
a rhinoceros, will fly from him in an instant. I had a 
proof of this, said he, about two years ago. As I was 
traversing my lands in the morning, I perceived a lion 
entering a thicket, about the distance of half a mile 
from the place where I stood. In a few minutes after 
I observed a second, then a third, and a fourth came ; 
they seemed to follow one another at their leisure, and, 
in less than an hour, I counted nine that entered the 
same wood. Never having seen so manj r of the same 
species together, I was desirous to know the event of 
their meeting, and I concealed myself for the purpose. 
After waiting for rather more than an hour in my lurking 
place, without either seeing any of them, or hearing 
any noise from the quarter where they lay, I began to 
despair of having my curiosity in the least gratified. At 
length, I perceived a rhinoceros of uncommon magnitude 
approach the wood. He stood motionless for about five 
minutes, when he arrived at a small distance from the 
thicket, then tossed up his nose and at last scented the 
animals that lay concealed. In an instant I saw him 
dart into the wood, and in the space of about five min- 
utes afterwards I observed all the lions scamper away in 
different directions, and apparently in the greatest con- 
sternation. The rhinoceros beat about the wood in pur- 
suit of his enemies for a considerable time; but not 
finding any, he broke covert at last and appeared on 
the plain. He then looked around him, enraged at his 
disappointment, began tearing up the earth, and discover- 



THE HERCULES. 53 

ed every sign of madness and desperation. I remained 
quietly in my retreat until the animal disappeared, and 
then returned to my house." 

The travellers slept this night on sacks, which their 
host had arranged for their accommodation. At break- 
fast on the succeeding morning, their benefactor entertain- 
ed them with some very interesting observe- ions res- 
pecting the country where he resided. He particularly 
stated the hardships, which the colonists endured from 
the restrictive orders and persecuting conduct of the 
government at the Cape. " I have lead ore, said he, on 
my own farm, so near the surface that we can scrape it 
up with our hands, and yet we dare not touch it. — If we 
-were known to melt and use a single pound of it, we 
should be all transported, for life, to Batavia." 

Before they had finished their meal, their benefactor 
despatched messengers to his neighboring friends, de- 
siring their assistance to get the crew to the Cape. Sev- 
eral of them came and behaved with the greatest tender- 
ness and liberality. They went so far as to say, that 
such as were desirous of remaining in the country until 
they had perfectly recovered, should be accommodated 
at their houses ; and as they travelled once in every year 
to the Cape, they would take the first opportunity of 
conveying them thither. The captain thanked them for 
their kindness, but declined accepting their proposal, as 
Ms intention was to make the Cape with every possible 
expedition. 

This conversation was interrupted by a Hottentot ser- 
vant who ran into the house and declared the " waggon 
was in sight." AH flew to meet it, and the captain had 
the heartfelt consolation of perceiving twenty-three of 
his unfortunate people, chiefly Lascars, lying down in the 
machine. On their arrival, the two sons of Pliesies said, 
they found them near a wood perfectly resigned to their 
fate, having given up all hopes of relief. The "preceding 
thirteen of their companions had separated from them : 
but where they had strayed to not one of .them conk! 
even guess at. These poor fellows after enduring for a 
long time the most unexampled miseries, all arrived m 
safety at the Cape. 

E2 



54 LOSS OF 

They were now forty-seven in number, and as they 
were to proceed in waggons, such as were afflicted with 
sore feet, or weak, through hunger and fatigue, would 
not again be separated from their companions. 

Their benevolent host now provided them with a wag- 
gon and two sets of oxen, each set containing eight. 
They were occasionally to relieve each other on the 
way, and two or three Hottentot servants were appoint- 
ed as drivers, and to take charge of the relaying cattle. 
One of the farmer's sons, completely armed, was like- 
wise directed to attend them, and the waggon was stor- 
ed with provisions and water sufficient for them until 
they should arrive at the next settlement. 

They took their departure from the hospitable man- 
sion of the benevolent Uupiiesies on the morning of the 
2d of July. The guard was perpetually oa the watch, 
lest the Boshis-men or the wild animals might dart upon 
them unperceived. About eight o'clock in the evening, 
however, they reached the second farm in perfect secu- 
rity. The distance travelled was about thirty*five miles 
this day, and all the people in good spirits. 

The owner whose name was Cornelius Englebrock, 
they found also a benevolent character. His cottage was 
poor indeed, but all that he could afford he gave with j 
cheerfulness. His neighbor's letter was produced, which 
he read with great attention, and then said, " my friend 
is a good man, and I always valued him ; but you want- 
ed no other recommendation to my poor services, than 
your misfortunes." 

They remained here during the night, after partaking 
of a frugal repast which their host had provided, and 1 
Which was given with many innocent apologies for its 
Scantiness . 

Before their departure on the ensuing morning, the 
farmer generously presented them with nine sheep. The 
poor man lamented that lie could not let them have a 
morsel of bread. — " We live, (said he.) the year round 
chiefly on mutton and'game, but seldom enjoy the luxu- 
ry of a loaf." He insisted, however, on the captain's 
taking the sheep, which he accepted with many thanks. 
aii J they then departed on their journey. 



THE HEftCtTLES. 55 

During the four or five succeeding days, (bey travelled 
on from house to house, generally at fifteen or sixteen 
miles distance from each other, and were received at 
all of them with a disinterested hospitality.. These oc- 
currences are related with a scrupulous attention to fidel- 
ity, because the colonists, without distinction, have been 
frequently represented as a ferocious banditti, scarcely 
to be kept within the pale of authority. 

During several days travelling they could get but little 
bread, and not much water. The countries were alter- 
nately hill and dale, and often afforded the most roman- 
tic prospects. They frequently perceived vast quantities 
of wolves, and such droves of that species of deer, 
which the farmers call spring buck, that one flock alone 
could not contain less than from twelve to fourteen thou- 
sand. Indeed many of the settlers said, they had seen 
double that number at one time, and frequently killed 
three at a single shot. Our travellers likewise saw vast 
quantities of guinea-fowl, which after a shower of rain, 
are easily caught by the farmers' dogs. 

The Zebra, or wild Ass, is common in these advanced 
colonies, and many of them were seen. Ostriches were 
likewise very numerous. They had such plenty of veni- 
son at the houses where they stopped, that their stock of 
nine sheep, furnished by honest Englebrock, was dimin- 
ished but three in the course of six days. 

From the 8th to the 1 4th of July, their journey was 
not interrupted by any disagreeable occurrence. The 
countries through which they passed, displayed at every 
mile a new change -of beauties. The mountains were in 
many places of stupendous height, and the valleys deco- 
rated with wood, were astonishingly fertile in vegetable 
productions. One of the most extensive of these val- 
leys, took them no less than three days and a half in 
passing. It is called by the settlers Long Cluff, and 
affords, perhaps, as many romantic scenes as can be 
found in any spot of the same extent on the face of the 
earth. 

The hills for seventy or eighty miles, run parallel to 
each other. The lands between are wonderfully rich, 
and produce vast quantities of a plant, similar in its taste 
and smell, to our thyme. On this fragrant heib are fed 



56 loss op 

immense quantities of sheep and cattle ; they devour it 
with great eagerness, and it gives the mutton a flavor so 
like our venison, that an epicure might be deceived in 
the taste. The valleys are generally level from four to 
eight miles in breadth, and in several places intersected 
with rivulets, on the borders of which are frequently 
perceived whole groves of the aloe-tree. 

On or about the 14th, they reached the settlement of 
an old and blind man. He had a large family, and ap- 
peared to possess a comfortable independence. When 
he heard the story of the travellers, the good farmer 
burst into tears, and ordered a glass of brandy to be 
given to each of the crew. After this unusual and 
« heering repast, he directed some mutton to be deliver- 
ed to the people, and gave them a pot to dress it in. He 
then requested of the captain to mess with the family, 
which was complied with, and when supper was ended, 
this worthy creature said he was so pleased with their 
escaping the dangers of the seas, and the Caffrees, that 
be would celebrate the meeting with a song. He imme- 
diately began and sung with the voice of Stentor. A 
general plaudit succeeded ; and then the honest benefac- 
tor said, "Now, captain, I have a favor to ask of you. 
Pray desire all your people to sing." It was impossible 
to help laughing at this whimsical request ; but it was 
thought good humor, at such a moment, should not be 
interrupted ; therefore an American sailor was desired to 
sing one of his best songs. He no sooner began than 
all the Lascars tuned their pipes ; this set a going the 
Swedes, Portuguese, and Dutchmen, and all the crew ; 
each party sung in their different languages, and at the 
same time. Such a concert was never heard before ; 
the liberal and merry old colonist was so entertained 
with their music, that he had nearly dropt from his 
chair in a fit of laughter. 

The captain was provided this night with a sheep-skin, 
on which he rested under the roof of the farmer's cot- 
tage ; but there was not room for all, and therefore most 
of the poor fellows were obliged to sleep in the air. A 
similar inconvenience had happened so frequently since 
they reached the colonies, that they determined to 
separate. 



THE HERCULES. S7 

On the morning of the 17th they separated, and the 
captain took with him his chief and third mate, together 
With one or two more who were solicitous to accompa- 
ny him. The country, as they advanced, increased in 
population ; and the farm-houses were, in several places, 
joot more than two miles distance from each other. Ma- 
ny of them were beautifully situated, and the lands pro- 
duced grain, oranges, figs, and lemons in abundance, 
Their grapes likewise appeared to fiourish r and supplied 
them with wine and brandies, which they vended chiefly 
at the Cape. Vast herds of deer, and partridges out of 
all number, were seen, and immense tracts of land cov- 
ered entirely with aloe-trees. 

From the 17th to the 21st, they travelled a mountain- 
ous country ; but the valleys constantly presented farms 
and habitations where the industry of the husbandman 
was amply rewarded. The flocks of sheep were prodi- 
gious ; but the cattle were not so numerous, nor in such 
good condition as those seen in the more advanced 
colonies. 

On the 22d they arrived at Zwellmgdam, and proceed- 
ed to the landorse-house. The landorse is the chief 
man of the place, and his settlement consists of about 
sixteen or eighteen houses, surrounded by a delightful 
country, and producing grain, vegetables for culinary 
purposes, grapes and fruits of almost every description. 

This gentleman gave them a very hospitable reception, 
and the next morning furnished the captain with a horse 
and guide, to conduct him to his brother-in-law's ; that 
nothing might be omitted on his part to secure a favor- 
able reception at the Cape, the captain's worthy host 
gave them a very kind letter to his friend General Craig, 
commander in chief, acquainting him with the loss of 
the ship, and the miseries endured by the crew*, in their 
travels through the desert. He also requested the general 
would do them every kindness in his power, which he 
would acknowledge as an obligation conferred upon 
himself. 

They arrived at the settlement of Johannes Brinch, at 
Stallen Bush, on the third or fourth day, after travelling 
a country highly cultivated, and producing immese for- 
ests of the aloe-tree. The farmers five here in affluence., 



53 loss or, &.C. 

and the crew continued to experience the most liberal 
and kind attention during the remainder of their journey. 

On their arrival at Stallen Bush, the captain waited on 
Mr. Brinch, whose reception can never be mentioned 
but in terms of the most fervent gratitude and esteem. 
His residence is one of those delightful places which, 
from its natural situation and fertility, wraps the behold- 
er, the moment he sees it, in a kind of extacy. The 
vines there, are reared with great attention, and are high- 
ly productive. Grain, vegetation, and fruits, yield abund- 
ant crops ; and camphire-trees of very large dimen- 
sions thrive also in the settlement. Indeed, the whole 
settlement seemed to be so precicely what it should b^, 
that any alteration must be a deformity. The people 
here dress well, but neare? the English than the Dutch 
style. They have nothing of that sullen taciturnity be- 
longing to the character of the Hollander ; but are spright- 
ly and good humored. 

" I remained two days (says the captain) under the roof 
cf this liberal and benevolent gentleman. He pressed 
me to stay longer ; but I was desirous of reaching 
the Cape, and therefore declined his hospitable invita- 
tion. In the morning, therefore, he provided me with 
a horse and guide, and I took my departure from Stallen 
Irtish, on the 30th, in the morning. Our journey was 
but short, as we arrived the same evening at the Cape of 
Good Hope ; and although emaciated in my frame, yet 
in tolerable health." 



S9 



LOSS OF 

THE GROSVENOR INDIAMAN, 

ON THE COAST OF CAFFRARIA, AUGUST 4, 1782 ; 

With the Particulars relative to the Unfortunate Survivors 
of tJie Wreck. 

An the melancholy catalogue of human woes, 
few things appear more eminently disastrous than the 
general fate of the Grosvenor's crew. Shipwreck is al- 
ways, even in its mildest form, a calamity, which fills 
the mind with horror ; but, what is instant death, com- 
pared to the situation of those who had hunger, thirst, 
and nakedness to contend with; who only escaped the 
fury of the waves to enter into conflicts with the savages 
of the forest, or the greater savages of the human race ; 
who were cut off from ail civilized society, and felt the 
prolongation of life to be only the lengthened pkins of 
death ? 

The Grosvenor sailed from Trinicomale, June 13th, 
1782, on her homeward bound voyage, and met with 
no memorable occurrence till the 4th of August, the 
fatal day on which she went on shore. \ ■ 

During the two preceding days it had blown very hard, 
the sky was overcast, so mat they were unable to take 
an observation; and it is likewise probable,- that from 
their vicinity to the shore, they had been carried out of 
their course by currents. The combination of these cir- 
cumstances may account for the error in their reckoning-, 
which occasioned the loss of the ship. It appears thai: 
Captain Coxson had declared, a few hours before the 
disaster took place, that he computed Vug ship to be at 



60 "tOSS OF THE 

least one hundred leagues from the nearest land, and 
4bis opinion lulled them into a false security. 

John Hynes, one of the survivors, being aloft with 
some others, in the night-watch, saw breakers ahead, 
and asked his companions if they did not think land 
was near. In this opinion they ail coincided, and has- 
tened to inform the third mate, who was the officer of 
the watch. The infatuated young man only laughed at 
their apprehensions ; upon which one of them ran to the 
cabin to acquaint the captain, who instantly ordered to 
wear ship. But before this could be accomplished, her 
keel struck with great force ; in an instant every person 
on board hastened on the deck, and apprehension and 
horror were impressed on every countenance. 

The captain endeavored to dispel the fears of the pas- 
sengers, and begged them to be composed. The pumps 
were sounded, but no water found in the hold, as the 
ship's stern lay high on the rocks. In a few minutes the 
wind blew off the shore, which filled them with appre- 
hensions lest they should be driven out to sea, and thus 
lose the only chance they had of escaping. The powder 
room was by this time full of water, the masts were cut 
aAvay, without any effect, and the ship heing driven 
within a cable's length of the shore, all hopes of saving 
her vanished. 

This dismal prospect produced distraction and des- 
pair, and it is impossible to describe the scene that en- 
sued. Those who where most composed set about 
forming a raft, hoping by means of it, to convey the wo- 
men, the children, and the sick, to land. Meanwhile 
t hree men attempted to swim to the shore with the deep- 
sea-Jine ; one perished in the attempt, but the other two 
succeeded. By these a hawser was, at length, carried 
to the shore and fastened round the rocks, in which 
opperation they were assisted by great numbers of the 
natives, who had come down to the water's edge to wit- 
ness the uncommon sight. 

The raft being by this time completed, was launched 
overboard, and four men got upon it to assist the ladies ; 
*ut they had scarcely taken their station before the haw- 
ser, which was fastened around it, snapped in two, by 
which accident it was upset, and three ef fee men 



GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 61 

browned. In this dilemma, every one began to think of 
the best means of saving himself. The yawl and jolly- 
boat had already been dashed to pieces by the violence of 
the surf; so that the only means of preservation now 
left was by the hawser made fast to the rocks, hand over 
hand. Several got safe on shore in this manner, while 
'others, to the number of fifteen, perished in the difficult 
attempt. 

The ship soon separated just before the main mast. 
The wind, at the same time, providentially shifted to the 
old quarter, and blew directly to the land, a circumstance 
which contributed greatly to the preservation of those 
on board, who all got on the poop, as being nearest to the 
shore. The wind and surges now impelling them, that 
part of the wreck, on which the people were, rent asun- 
der fore and aft, the deck splitting in two.. In this distress 
they crowded upon the starboard quarter, which soon 
floated into shoal water, the other parts of the wreck 
breaking off those heavy seas which would otherwise have 
iiigulphed or dashed them to pieces. Through this for- 
tunate incident, all on board, even the ladies and chil- 
dren, got safe on shore, except the cook's mate, a black, 
who being drunk, could not be prevailed upon to leave 
the wreck, 

Before this arduous business was well effected night 
came on, and the natives having retired, several fires were 
lighted with fuel from the wreck, and the whole company 
supped on such provisions as they picked up on the shore. 
Two tents were formed of sails that had drifted to the 
shore, and in these the ladies were left to repose, while 
the men wandered about in search of such articles as 
might be of service. 

On the morning of the 5th, the natives returned, and, 
without ceremony, carried off whatever suited their fan- 
cy. This conduct excited a thousand apprehensions 
particularly in the. minds of the females, for their personal 
safety; but observing that the savages contented them- 
selves with plunder, their fears were somewhat allayed. 

The next day was employed in collecting together all 
the articles that might be useful in their journey to the 
Cape, to which they imprudently resolved to direct their 
course ; a resolution which involved them in couiplica- 



i2 jLOSS of the 

ted misery, and which can be justified by no wise prinei* 
pie. From the wreck they might easily have built a 
vessel capable of containing them all, and by coasting 
along, they might have reached the nearest of the Dutch 
settlements with hall" the danger or risk to which they 
were then exposing themselves. Distress, however, 
sometimes deprives men of all presence of mind ; so the 
crew of the Grosvenor, having just escaped the dangers 
of the sea, appear to have considered land as the most 
desirable alternative, without reflecting on the almost in- 
buperable obstacles that lay in their w r ay. 

On examining their stores, they found themselves in 
possession of two casks of flour and a tub of pork, that 
had been washed on the beach, and some arrack, which 
the captain prudently ordered to be staved, lest the na- 
tives should get at it, and by intoxkation increase their 
natuaral ferocity. 

Captain Coxson now called together the survivors, and 
tiaving divided the provisions among them, asked if they 
consented to his continuing in the command, to which 
they unanimously agreed. He then informed them, that 
i'rom the best calculation he could make, he was in hopes 
of being able to reach some of the Dutch settlements in 
fifteen or sixteen days. In this calculation the captain 
was probably not much mistaken. Subsequent observa- 
tions prove that the Grosvenor must have been wrecked 
between the 27th and 28th degree of south latitude ; and 
as the Dutch colonies extend beyond the 31st degree, 
they might have accomplished the journey within the 
time specified, had not rivers intervened and retarded 
their progress. 

Every thing being arranged, they set out on Iheir jour- 
ney on the 7th, leaving behind only an old Eas,t-lndia 
soldier, who being lame, preferred trusting himself to the 
natives till some more favorable opportunity of getting 
away should present itself; adding, that he might as well 
liie with them as end his life on the way with pain and 
hunger. 

As they moved forward they were followed by some 
of the natives, while others remained at the wreck. 
Those who accompanied them plundered them, from 
time to time, of whatever they liked, and sometimes 



GROSVENOR rNDIAirAN. 65 

threw stones at them. After proceeding a few miles they 
were met by a party of about thirty of the natives, whose 
hair was fastened up in a comical form, and their faces 
painted red. Among these was a man who spoke Dutch, 
who, it afterwards appeared, was a run-away slave from 
the Cape, on account of some crimes, and was named 
Trout. When this man came up to the English he in- 
quired who they were, and whither they were going, 
Finding by their answers that they had been cast away, 
he informed them, that their intended journey to the Cape 
would be attended with unspeakable difficulties from the 
natives, the wild beasts, and the nature of the country 
through which they would have to pass. 

Though this did not contribute to raise their spirits 
they tried to engage him as a guide, but no arguments 
could prevail upon him to comply with their wishes. 
' Finding all their solicitations fruitless, they pursued their 
journey for four or five days, during which they were 
constantly surrounded by the natives, who took from 
them whatever they pleased, but invariably retired on 
the approach of night. 

As they proceeded they saw many villages, which they 
carefully avoided, that they might be less exposed to the 
insults of the natives. At length they came to a deep 
gully, where they were met by three Caffrees, armed 
with lances, which they held several times to the cap- 
tain's throat. Irritated beyond all patience by their con- 
duct, he wrenched one of the lances from their hands 
and broke it. Of this the natives seemed to t/ke no no- 
tice, and went away ; but the next day, on coming to a 
large village, they there found the three men, with three 
or four hundred of their countrymen, all armed wi in lan- 
ces and targets. As the English advanced they were 
stopped by these people, who began to pilfer and insult 
them, and at lastfell upon and beat them. 

Conceiving that it was the intention of the natives to 
kill :hem, they formed a resolution to defend themselves 
to the last extremity. Accordingly, placing the women, 
the children, and the sick at some distance, the remain- 
der, to the number of eighty or ninety, engaged their op- 
ponents in a kind of running fight for upwards of two 
hours, when our countrymen gaining an eminence, where 



64 LOSS OF THE 

they could not be surrounded, a kind of parley took 
place. In this unfortunate encounter many were wound- 
ed on both sides, but none killed. After a pacification 
had taken place, the English cut the buttons from their 
coats, and presented them to the natives, upon which 
they went away and returned no more. 

The following night they were terrified with the noise 
of wild beasts, :^o that the men were obliged to keep 
watch to prevent their too near approach. What a dread- 
ful situation, especially for females of delicate habits, and 
so lately possessing all the luxuries that eastern refine- 
ment could afford ! 

When morning arrived they were again joined by 
Trout, who had been on board the wreck, and had loaded 
himself with various articles of iron and copper, which' 
he was carrying to his habitation. He cautioned them 
against making any resistance in future, for as they were 
not furnished with any weapons of defence, opposition 
would only tend to irritate the natives and increase ob- 
s (ructions. With this advice he left them. 

Having made some progress during the day, they 
agreed to pass the night near a deep gully, but were so 
disturbed by the bowlings' of wild beasts that they could 
get but little sleep. Though a large fire was kept up to 
intimidate these unwelcome visitors, they came so near 
as to occasion a general alarm. 

[The next day as they were advancing, a party of na- 
tives came down upon them, and plundered them, 
among o" er things, of their tinder-box, flint, and steel, 
which proved an irreparable loss. They were now 
obliged to carry with them a fire-brand by turns, the na- 
tives following them until it was almost dark. At length 
they came to a small river, where they determined to 
stop during the night. Before the natives retired they 
became more insolent than ever, robbing the gentlemen 
of their watches, and the ladies of the diamonds which 
they had secreted in their hair. Opposition was in vain; 
the attempt to resist these outrages being productive of 
fresh insults, and even blows. 

The following day they crossed the river. Here their 
provisions being nearly expended, and the delay and 
fatigue occasioned by travelling with the women and 



GR0SVEN0R INDIAMAN. 61 

children being very great, the sailors began to murmer, 
and each seemed resolved to shift for himself. Accord- 
ingly the captain, with Mr. Logie, the first mate, and his 
Wife ; the third mate, Colonel James and Lady, Mr. and 
Mrs. Hosea, Mr. Newman, a passenger, the purser, the 
surgeon, and five of the children, agreed to keep together, 
and travel as before ; many of the sailors were also pre- 
vailed upon to attend them, by the liberal promises of 
the passengers. 

On the other hand, Mr. Shaw, the second mate, Mr. 
Trotter, the Fourth, Mr. Harris, the fifth, Captain Talbot, 
Messrs. Williams and Taylor, M. D'Espinette, several 
other gentlemen, and their servants, together with a 
number of the seamen, in all forty -three persons, "among 
whom was Hynes, from whom much information was 
afterwards obtained, resolved to hasten forward. A 
young gentleman of the name of Law, seven or eight 
years of age, crying after one of the passengers, they 
agreed to take him with them, and to carry him by 
turns when tired. 

This separation was equally fatal, cruel, and impo- 
litic; however, the second mate's party having been 
stopped by a river, they once more joined with great 
satisfaction, and travelled in company the whole of that 
day and part of the next. 

They now arrived at a large village, where they found 
Trout, who introduced his wife and child to them, anft 
begged a piece of pork. He informed them that this 
was his residence, and repeated his former declaration, 
that the natives would not suffer him to depart, even if 
he were inclined to return to his own country. He how- 
ever, communicated various articles of information rela- 
tive to their journey, for which they made due acknow- 
ledgements ; but it is to be lamented, that he could not 
be induced to extend his services, or rather, that his 
crimes and character rendered him dangerous to be 
trusted, and fearful of trusting himself among Christians. 

During their conversation with Trout the natives sur- 
rounded them in numbers, and continued to follow them 
till dusk. The two companies passed the night together, 
but that distress, which ought to have been the bond of 
F2 



6S LOSS OF THE 

Unity, was unfortunately perverted into an occasion for 
disaffection and complaint. 

Their provisions running very short, a party went 
down to the sea-side to seek for shell-fish on the rocks, 
and found a considerable quantity of oysters, muscles, 
and limpets. These were divided among the women, 
the children, and the sick; for the tide happening to 
come in before they had collected a sufficient stock, 
some of the wretched troop were obliged to put up with 
a very scanty allowance. After a repast, which rather 
excited than gratified their appetites, they continued 
their march, and about noon reached a small village, 
where an old man approached them, armed with a lance, 
which he levelled, making, at the same time, a noise 
somewhat resembling the report of a musket. From 
this circumstance, it is probable, he was acquainted with 
the use of fire arms, and apprehended they would kill his 
cat tie, for he immediately drove his herd into the kraall ; 
an inclosure, where they are always secured upon the 
appearance of danger, and during the night. The old 
man took no farther notice of the English, but they were 
followed by some of the other inhabitants of the village, 
who behaved extremely ill. 

The final separation now took place ; they parted to 
moot no more. In adopting this resolution they appear 
to have been influenced by motives which had, at least, 
the specious appearance of reason. They conceived, 
that by pursuing different routes, and travelling in small 
parties, they should be less the object of jealously to 
the natives, and could the more easily procure subsis- 
tence. To counterbalance these advantages, however, 
they lost that unity of action, that systematic direction, 
which a prudent superior can communicate to those un- 
der his care ; and by rejecting established authority, ihey 
soon split into parties, guided only by caprice, and sway- 
ed by temporary views. After all, they did not part 
without evincing those emotions so honorable to human 
nature : their misfortunes had, in some measure, levelled 
distinctions, and the services of the lowest were regarded 
as tokens of friendship, not expressions of duty. 

From this period the fate of the captain, and his asso- 
ciate?, is almost wholly unknown. But imagination 



6RGSVENGB 1NDJAMAN, 6% 

cannot form a scene of deeper distress than what the 
delicate and tender sex, and the innocent children must 
have experienced. From the accounts of some of the 
party who survived their distresses and subsequent in- 
quiries, it is probable, that the hand of death soon re- 
leased them from their accumulated ills ; though the 
public mind was long harrassed with the belief that a 
few had been doomed to worse than death among the 
natives. 

The separation being decided upon, the party which 
had attached itself to the second mate, travelled till it. 
was quite dark, when, arriving at a convenient spot, they 
kindled a fire and reposed for the night. 

Next day they proceeded, as they conjectured, thirty 
miles ; and though they saw great numbers of the na- 
tives they received from them not the least molesta- 
tion. Towards the close of the day, they reached an 
extensive wood, and being fearful of entering it, lest 
they might loose their way, they spent a restless night 
on its verge, being terribly alarmed by the howling of 
wild beasts. 

They continued their route the following clay till noon, 
without any other food than wild sorrel and such berries 
as they observed the birds to peck at. None of the 
natives made their appearance ; the wanderers having 
reached a point of the rocks, found some shell-fish, and 
after refreshing themselves they advanced till they came 
to the banks of a large river where they reposed. 

Next morning, finding the river very broad and deep, 
and several of the company being unable to swim, they 
resolved to follow its windings, and seek some place 
where it was fordable. In their way they passed ma- 
ny villages, the inhabitants of which were too much 
alarmed to yield them any assistance. Pursuing the 
course of the river a considerable way, and not finding 
it become narrower, they determined to construct cata- . 
marans* .a kind of raft, in order to cross it. This being 
effected, with such materials as they found on the banks, 
those who could not swim were placed upon the float, 
which being impelled by the others, they all crossed it 
in safety, though the river was computed t© fee not less 
than two miles over. 



68 L0S3 OP TfiE 

It was now three days since they had left the sea, and 
during that period they had scarcely taken any nourish- 
ment but water and a little wild sorrel. They therefore 
again directed their cou»se to the shore, where they were 
fortunate enough to find abundance of shell-fish, which 
afforded them a very seasonable refreshment. 

After following the trendings of the coast for three or 
four days, during which the natives suffered them to pass 
without molestation, penetrating a pathless wood, where, 
perhaps, no human being ever trod, uncertain which way 
to proceed, incommoded by the heat, and exhausted by 
the fatigues of their march, they were almost ready to 
sink, when, they reached the summit of a hill. Here they 
rested, and had the satisfaction to see a spacious plain be- 
fore them, through which a fine stream meandered. As 
ti e wild beasts, however, were accustomed, in their noc- 
turnal prowlings to resort to this place for water, the situa- 
tion of the travellers was perilous, and subject to contin- 
ual alarms. m 

In the morning one of the party ascened a lofty tree to 
observe the trendings of the coast, after which they resu- 
med their course, and entered another wood just as the 
night set in. Having passed it by paths which the wild 
beasts alone had made, they again reached the sea-coast. 
Here they made fires, which, after the fatigues they had 
undergone, was a toilsome bosiness, and threw into them 
the oysters they had collected, to make them open, as 
they had not a single knife remaining among them. On 
this spot they reposed, but found no water. 

Next day, the wanderers, in the course of their journey, 
had the good fortune to discover a dead whale, which 
sight in their present situation, afforded them no little 
satisfaction. The wani of a knife to cut it up prevented 
them from taking full advantage of this accidental sup- 
ply ; some of them, though in the extremity or* hunger, 
nauseated this food : white others, making a fire^ui the 
carcase, dug out the part thus roasted, with oys^^welis, 
and made a hearty meal. 

A fine level country now presented itself, the sight of 
which caused them to believe that their fatigues were near 
a termination, and that they had reached the northern- 
most part of the the Dutch colonies. Here new dissen- 



CR0SVEN0R ESBIAMAN. €9 

sions arose, some advising that they should penetrate in- 
land, while others persevered in the original plan of keep- 
ing in the vicinity of the sea-coast. 

After many disputes another division of the party took 
place. Mr. Shaw, the fourth mate, Mr. Harris, the fifth, 
Messrs. Williams and Taylor, Capt. Talbot, and seamen^ 
to the number of twenty-two persons, among whom was 
Hynes, the reporter, resolved to proceed inland. The 
carpenter, the ship's steward, M. d'Espinette, M. Olivier, 
with about twenty-four seamen, continued to follow the 
shore. 

The party which took the interior proceeded for three 
days through a very pleasant country, where they saw a 
great number of deserted kraalls. During this time they 
had nothing to subsist on but a few oysters, w r hich they 
carried with them, and some berries and wild sorrel gath- 
ered on the w r ay. The effects of hunger soon compelled 
them to return to the coast, where, as usual, they found 
a supply of shell-fish. As they were proceeding up a 
steep hill, soon after their separation, Capt. Talbot com- 
plained of great lassitude, and repeatedly sat down to 
rest himself. The company several times indulged him 
by doing the same ; but perceiving that he was quite ex- 
hausted, they went on, leaving him and his faithful ser- 
vant, Blair, sitting beside each other, and neither of them 
were heard of any more. 

Having reposed near the shore the next day, about 
noon, they arrived at a small river, where they found two* 
of the carpenter's pai iy, who, being unable to swim, had 
been left behind. The joy of these poor creatures, at 
the sight of their comrades was excessive. They were 
preserved since they had been in this place, almost by a 
miracle, for while they were gathering shel!-fish on the 
beach, their fire went out, so that it was w r onderful how 
they escaped being devoured by the wild beasts. 

They were with difficulty got over the river, and trav- 
elling 0»>for four days more the party came to another 
river, o$|siich breadth that none of them would attempt 
to pass it. ■ Having no alternative, they marched along its 
banks in hopes of finding a practicable passage, and arriv- 
ed at a village, where the natives shewed thnm the 
inside of a watch, winch some of the carpenter's party 



TO liOSS OF THE 

bad given for a little milk. Mr. Shaw conceiving thai 
such a traffic would not be unacceptable, offered them 
the inside of his watch for a calf. To these terms they 
assented, but no sooner had they obtained possession of 
the price than they withheld the calf, which was imme- 
diately driven out of the village. 

They continued their march along the river for several 
days, and passed through several villages without moles- 
tation from the inhabitants, till they came to a part where 
they conceived they should be able to cross. Having 
constructed a catamaran, as before, they all passed the 
river in safety, excepting the two who had been left be- 
hind by the carpenter's party, and who were afraid to 
venture. These unfortunate men were never seen af- 
terwards. 

Having gained the opposite bank, the company now 
proceeded, in an oblique direction, towards the shore, 
which they reached about noon on the third day. The 
next morning, at the ebbing of the tide, they procured 
some shel!-ftsh, and having refreshed themselves, they 
pursued their journey. 

In t}\e course of that day's march they fell in with a 
party of the natives, belonging, as they imagined, to a , 
new nation, by whom they were beaten, and extremely 
ill treated. To avoid their persecutions they concealed 
themselves in the woods till the savages had retired, when 
they assembled again and resumed their march. They 
had not proceeded far before they perceived the prints of 
human feet in the sand, from which they concluded that 
their late companions were before them. In the hope of 
rejoining them they traced their supposed footsteps for a 
while, but soon lost them among the rocks and grass. 

After some time they came to another river, not very 
broad, but of considerable depth, which they passed in 
safety on a catamaran, as before. Nothing remarkable 
occurred during the three following days ; but at the ex- 
piration of that period they overtook the carpenter's party, 
whose sufferings they found had been even more severe 
than their own. The carpenter himself had been poi- 
soned by eating some kind of fruit, with the nature of 
which he was unacquainted : M. d'Espinette, and M. Oli- 
vier, worn out with famine and fatigue, hud been left to 



(•heir fate. The unfortunate little traveller, Law, was still 
with them, and had hitherto supported every hardship in 
an astonishing manner. 

Thus once more united they proceeded together till 
they came to a sandy beach, where they found a couple of 
planks with a spike nail in each. This convinced them 
that some European ships had been near the coast, or 
that they were in the vicinity of some settlement. The 
nails were prizes of the first consequence ; these being 
flattened between two stones, were shaped into some- 
thing like knives, and, to men in their situation, were con- 
sidered a most valuable acquisition. 

In a ahort time they came to another river, on whose 
banks they accidentally found fresh water, which induced 
them to rest there for the night. In the morning, they 
crossed the river, and on examining the seashore they 
found another dead whale, which diffused a general joy, 
till a large party of natives, armed with lances came 
down upon them. These people, however, perceiving 
the deplorable condition of the travellers, conducted 
themselves in such a pacific manner as to dispel their ap- 
prehensions. One of them even lent those who were 
employed upon the whale, his lance, by means of which, 
and their two knives, they cut it into junks, and carried 
off a considerable quantity, till they could find wood and 
water to dress it 

On coming to a river the following day, another of the 
party dropped, and they were under the cruel necessity 
of leaving him behind. Having plenty of provisions they 
now proceeded four da} s without intermission, and pro- 
curing a stick, they set about making a kind of calendar, 
by cutting a notch for every day ; but, in crossing a river, 
this register of time was lost, and the care they had taken 
to compute their melancholy days was of no avail. 

They soon reached a new river, where they halted for 
the night. The frequent impediments of rivers much re- 
tarded their progress. Few of these, however, are of 
very great magnitude at any distance from the sea ; but 
as the waves derived all their subsistence from the watery 
element they were obliged to submit to the inconvenience 
of passing them in general where the tide flowed. This 
will account for difficulties, from which, had it been prac- 



72 LOSS OF THE 

ticable, a more inland course would have exempted 
them. 

As the weather was very unfavorable next morning, 
some of the company were afraid to cross the river, upon 
which Hynes, and about ten more, being impatient to 
proceed, swam across, leaving the rest, among whom 
was master Law, behind them. Having gained the op- 
posite shore, they proceeded till they came to a place 
where they met with shell-fish, wood, and water. Here 
they halted two days, in expectation of tlie arrival of 
the others ; but as it still blew fresh, they concluded that 
their more timorous companions had not ventured to cross 
the river ; therefore thinking it in vain to wait any longer, 
they went forward. 

They had not travelled many hours before they had 
Ihe good fortune to discover a dead seal on the beach. 
One (£ she knives being in the possession of this party, 
they cut up their prey, dressed part of the flesh on the 
spot and carried the rest with them. 

The next morning the party left behind overtook them. 
It was now conducted by 'the ship's steward, and in the 
interval from the recent separation, it appeared that they 
had suffered extremely from the natives, from hunger, 
and fatigue, and that five of them were no more. Thus 
these unfortunate men were rapidly losing some of their 
body; yet the reflection of their forlorn condition did 
not rouse them to the good effects of unanimity, which 
alone, had it been either a permanent principle, or en- 
forced by an authority to which they ought to have sub- 
mitted, might have saved them many distresses, and 
would have tended to the preservation of numbers. Con- 
cord is always strength ; the contrary, even in the hap- 
piest circumstances, is weakness and ruin. 

Having shared the remainder of the sea! among them, 
and taken some repose, they again proceeded in one 
body, and after some time came to a lofty mountain, 
which it was necessary to cross, or go round the bluff 
point of a rock on which the surf beat with great vio- 
lence. The latter appearing to be much the shortest 
passage, they chose it, but had reason to repent their 
determination, as they had a miraculous escape with 
their lives. Some of them not only lost their provision?. 



GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 73 

but their fire-brands, which they had hitheto carefully 
carried with them, were extinguished by the waves. 

Dispirited by this essential loss, which was their chief 
protection from the wild beasts, they felt the misery of 
their situation with aggravated force, and an additional 
gloom clouded their future prospects. Marching along 
in this disconsolate mood, they fell in with some female 
natives, who immediately fled. When the travellers 
came up to the spot where these women had been first 
descried, they had the satisfaction to find that the fire on 
which they had been dressing muscles was not extinguih- 
ed. With joy they lighted their brands, and after a few" 
hours repose pursued their course. 
I Next day they arrived at a village, where the natives, 
offered to barters young bullock with them. The inside 
of a watch, some buttons, and other trifles, were offered 
and readily accepted in exchange ; the beast being deliv- 
ered up, was despatched by the lance of one of the na- 
tives. The Caff rees were pleased to receive back the 
entrails, and the carcase being divided in the most im- 
partial manner, our people took up their abode for that 
night near the * village, and the next morning passed an- 
other river on a catamaran. 

The bullock was the only sustenance they had hither- 
to received from the natives, by barter or favor, except- 
ing that the women sometimes gave the poor child who 
accompanied them some miljc. Among the most barba- 
rous nations, the females, to the honor of their sex, are 
always found to foe comparatively humane, and never 
was there a more just object of commiseration than mas- 
ter Law. Hitherto he had got on tolerably well, through 
the benevolent attention of his companions. He walk- 
ed when able, and when tired, they carried him in turn 
without a murmur. None ever obtained any food with- 
out allowing him a share. When the rest were collect- 
ing sheli-fish he was left to watch the fire,, and on their 
return he participated in the spoils. 

They now entered a sandy desert, which they were 
ten days in passing. In this desolate tract Ihfy had nm 
ny rivers to pass ; and had it not been for the supply of 
food they carried with them, they must all have perished. 
However, they had wood in abundance, seldom failed to 
G 



74 fcOSS OF THfc 

find water by digging in the sand, and being safe from 
the apprehensions of the natives, this appears to have 
been the most pleasant part of their journey. 

Having crossed the desert, they entered the territories 
of a new nation, by whom they were sometimes mal- 
treated, and at others were suffered to pass without mo- 
lestation. Being now on the borders of the ocean, they 
fell in with a party of the natives, who, by signs, advis- 
ed them to go inland ; and complying with their direc- 
tions, they soon arrived at a village, where they found 
only women and children. The women brought out a 
little milk, which they gave to master Law. It was con- 
tained in a small basket, curiously formed of rushes, and 
so compact as to hold any kind of liquid. Here they 
had an opportunity of examining several huts, and ob- 
served the mode in which the natives churn their butter. 
The milk is put into a leather bag, which is suspended 
in the middle of the tent, and pushed backward and for- 
ward by two persons, till the butter arrives at a proper 
consistence. When thus prepared, they mix it with 
yoot, and anoint themselves with the composition, which 
proves a defence against the intense heat of the climate, 
and renders their limbs uncommonly pliant and active. 

While the travellers were resting themselves, the men 
belonging to the village returned from hunting, each 
bearing upon the point of his spear a piece of -deer's 
flesh. They fomfcd a ring round the strangers, and 
seemed to gaze on them with admiration. After having 
satisfied their curiosity, they produced two bowls of 
milk, which they appeared willing to barter ; but as our 
wretched countrymen had nothing to give in exchange, 
they drank it up themselves. 

Scarcely had they finished their meal, when they all 
rose up, and in an instant went off into the woods, leaving 
the English, under some apprehensions as to the cause, of 
this sudden motion. In a short time, however, they re- 
turned with a deer, and though our people earnesly in- 
,treated to be permitted to partake of the spoil, the na- 
tives not only disregarded their solicitations, but likewise 
insisted on their quitting the kraal. This_they were 
obliged to comply with, and after walking a few miles. 
i hey lay down to rest. y 



GR0SVEN0R INDIAMAS. "75 

For several days they pursued their journey without 
any remarkable occurrence. They frequently fell in with 
the natives, who had great numbers of oxen, but they 
would part with nothing without a return; which was 
not in the power of the travellers to make. They had, 
however, the negative satisfaction of not being annoyed 
in their progress. They now came to another river, 
where they saw three or four huts, containing only wo- 
men and children. The flesh of sea-cows and sea-lions 
was hanging up to x\ry, of which the women gave the 
travellers a part. They slept that night at a small dis- 
tance from these huts. 

Next morning Hynes and nine others swam across the 
river, but the rest were too timorous to make the at- 
tempt. Those who had crosed the river, soon afier- 
terwards had the good fortune to observe a sear asleep, 
just at high-water mark, and having cut off his retreat, 
they found means to kill him. Having divided the 'fleshy 
they travelled four or five days, occasionally falling in 
with the natives, who, upon the whole, behaved with 
tolerable forbearance. 

They now arrived at another river, which they were 
obliged to cross, and proceeding on their route, the 
next day found a whale ; and thus being well supplied 
with provisions they resolved to halt for their compan- 
ions ; hut after waiting in vain two days, they proceed- 
ed without them. They afterwards found that their 
companions had taken a more inland route, and had got 
before them. Having, therefore, cut up as much of the 
whale as they could carry, and being much refreshed, 
they proceeded with alacrity, having now no necessity to 
loiter in quest of food. 

Thus they travelled for more than a week, and in 
their way discovered some pieces of rags, which satisfi- 
ed them that their late associates had got the start of 
them. They now entered an extensive sandy desert, 
and finding, towards the close of the first day, but little 
prospect of obtaining either wood or water, they were 
much disheartened. To their joy, however, at the en- 
trance of a deep gulle'y they saw the following wprds trac- 
ed on the sand : Turn in here and you will find plenty 
of wood and water. This cheered them like a revelation 



i* LOSS OF THE 

from heaven, and on entering the gulley they found the 
notification verified, and the remains of several fires, 
which assured them that their late companions had re- 
posed in the same place. 

They proceeded several days, proportionally exhaust- 
ed with fatigue as they advanced, but without any me- 
morable occurrence. They now came to a blurT point 
@f a rock, which projected so for into the sea as to ob- 
struct their progress, so that they were obliged to direct 
their course more inland. To add to their distress, 
their provisions were again exhausted, when, arriving at 
a large pond, they luckily found a number of land-crabs, 
snails, and some sorrel jn the vicinity, and on these 
they made a satisfactory meal. 

As soon as it dawned they resumed their journey, and 
entering a w T ood, they observed many of the trees torn 
up by the roots. While they were lost in amazement 
at this phenomenon, to their terror and astonishment 
thirty or forty large elephants started up out of the long 
gras»j with which the ground was covered. The travel- 
lers stood some moments in suspense, whether they 
would retreat or advance ; but, by taking a circuitous 
course, they passed these enormous creatures without 
any injury. The grass in which they lay was not less 
than eight or nine feet high. This may appear strange 
to those who are not acquainted with the luxuriant vegi- 
tation of tropical climates, but other travellers of un- 
questionable veracity, have made the same remarks on 
Africa. 

Having reached the sea shore that night, our travellers 
were miserably disappointed by the state of the tide, 
which deprived them of their usual supplies of shell-fisb. 
To such extremities w r ere thoy, in consequence reduced, 
that some of them, who had made shoes of the hide of 
V e bullock obtained in barter from the natives, singed 
off the hair, broiled and eat them. This unsavory dish 
they rendered as palatable as possible by means of some 
wild celery they found on t]je spot, and the whole party 
partook of it. 

At low water they went as usual to the rocks to pro- 
cure shell-fish ; and as they proceeded they often per- 
ceived evident traces of that division of their party 



GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. Jji 

which had got the start of them. In two days time they 
fell in with a hunting party of the natives, who offered 
no molestation to our people as they passed, and for 
several days they every where behaved with the same 
forbearance. 

After passing two rivers, and finding no fresh water 
near them, they entered a sterile country, where the na- 
tives appeared to have nothing to subsist on but what 
they derived from hunting and fishing. What then must 
have been the situation of our travellers ! They had not 
a drop of water for several days ; and a few berries 
which they occasionally picked up, were the only allevi- 
ation of their burning thirst. However, they soon reach- 
ed Caffraria, properly so called, which they found to be 
a fine and populous country. 

During their march through this territory our travellers 
were absolutely starving in the midst of plenty. They 
saw abundance of cattle, but so tenacious were the na- 
tives of their property, that they would not part with 
any thing gratuitously, and our people had nothing to give 
in barter. So apprehensive were the Caffrees, lest these 
poor vagrants might commit depredations, that they con- 
stantly secured their cattle as they approached, and even, 
used violence to keep them at a distance 1 . So true it is 
that in all countries poverty is considered rather as a 
crime than a misfortune, and that he who has nothing to 
bestow, is immediately suspected of an intention to take 
away. 

But the Caffrees have been characterised as a humane 
and inoffensive people. How are we then to reconcile 
this description with the conduct they displayed to oiu* 
countrymen ? May not the idea, that they were Dutch- 
men, solve the difficulty 1 Between the Caffrees and the 
Dutch colonists an inveterate enmity subsisted at that 
period. The Caffrees had been treated with unparalleled 
cruelty and oppression by the white people, with whom 
they were conversant ; all white people were, therefore, 
probably regarded as enemies.. Among uncivilized na- 
tions, wherever any intercourse has been established 
with Europeans, the characters of the latter, in general, 
have been determined from the conduct of a worthless 
G2 



73 Loss op THi: 

few. Thus, as on other important occasions, many suf- 
fer for the vices of individuals. 

Our travellers every where repelled, or regarded with 
apprehension, at length came to a river, and having 
crossed it, were met by a party of the natives, one of 
whom had adorned his hair with a piece of a silver 
buckle, which was known to have belonged to the ship's 
cook. It seems the cook, who set a particular value 
upon his buckles, had covered them with bits of cloth, 
to conceal them from the natives ; but at length hunger 
had compelled him to break them up, in order to barter 
them for food : but no sooner was the price deposited 
than the natives broke their engagement, as had been 
their general practice, except in one solitary instance, 
and drove the claimants away. 

Hynes and his party were roughly handled by the na- 
tives they had fallen in with. To avoid their persecution, 
they travelled till late at night, and after reposing for a 
few hours, they recommenced their journey before it 
was light, that they might escape a repetition of their ill 
treatment. 

Next day about noon, they reached a spot where 
there was good water, and the probability of finding an 
abundance of shellfish; here, being much fatigued, 
they determined to spend the night. While in this situa- 
tion they were overtaken by a tremendous storm of 
Ihuhder and lightning, and the rain poured down in such 
torrents that they were obliged to hold up their canvas 
frocks over the fire to save it from being extinguished. 
Next day at low water, they found shellfish, as usual, 
k staid some time to dry their clothes, and then resumed 
i heir journey . Coming to a large village the inhabitants 
fell upon them with such fury, that several of them were 
wounded, in consequence of which, one man died soon 
afterwards. Hynes received a wound in his leg from a 
lance, and being knocked down, was left senseless on 
the spot by his companions, who supposed him to be 
dead. However, in a few hours, to their great joy, he 
rejoined his countrymen, who had despaired of ever 
seeing him again. 

Prom this time they lost sight of the habitations of the 
natives, and entered a sandy desert, where it was with 



GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. Td 

the utmost difficulty they could procure any sustenance. 
At intervals, indeed, they experienced the usual bounty 
of the sea, and having collected as many shellfish as 
possible, they opened them in the fire, and taking out 
the animal, left the shells which greatly diminished the 
labor of carriage. 

Having passed the desert, they arrived at a large river, 
which, as they afterwards learned from the Dutch, is 
called Bosjesman's river. Here they found Thomas 
Lewis, one of the party which had gone before them, 
who having been taken ill, was abandoned to his fate. 
He informed them that he had travelled inland and seen 
many huts, at one of which he obtained a little milk, 
and at another was beaten away. He added, that having 
reached the place where he now was, he found himself 
too weak to cross the river, and was, therefore, deter- 
mined to return to the nearest kraal, indifferent as to his 
reception or his life. In vain his companions strove to 
overcome this determination. They flattered him with 
the hope of yet being able to reach the Cape, but their 
encouragement was ineffectual. Both his body and mind 
were broken down ; he had drained the cup of affliction 
to the dregs ; despair had laid her iron hand upon him, 
and sealed him for her own. In spite of all their entrea- 
ties he went back to the natives, and once more had the 
good fortune to receive assistance* when he could least 
of all expect it, and in such a shape as proved effectual 
to his preservation. But we are anticipating events. 

On exploring the sea coast, our people, to their great 
joy, dicovered another whale, and having cut the flesh 
into junks, took with them as much of it as they were 
able to carry. Again losing sight of the natives, and 
their huts, they were kept in perpetual alarm by the wild 
beasts, which were here more numerous than in any part 
of the country through which they had hitherto passed. 

On the fourth day, after passing the river, they over- 
took the ship's steward and Master Law, who still surviv- 
ed inexpressible hardships. From them they learned 
that the cooper had been buried the preceding evening in 
the sand ; but when Hynes and the steward went to take 
a farewell view of the spot, they found to their surprise 
and horror, that the body had been carried off by some 



30 1.038 OP THE 

carnivorous animal, which had evidently dragged it to a 
considerable distance. 

Hynes' party presented the steward and child with 
some of the flesh of the whale, by wkich they were 
much refreshed ; and for eight or ten days more they all 
proceeded in company. At length they came to a point 
of rocks, and as the whale was by this time wholly con- 
sumed, they went round the edge in search of such sus- 
tenance as the sea might afford. This took up so much 
time that they were obliged to sleep on the rock, where 
they could procure no water but what was very brackish. 
In the morning the steward and child were both taken ill,* 
and being unable to proceed, the party agreed to halt 
till the next day. The extreme coldness of the rock en 
which they had slept, produced a sensible effect on them 
all ; the steward and child still continued very ill. Their 
companions, therefore, agreed to wait another day, when, 
if no favorable turn took place, they would be under the 
painful necessity of abandoning them to their fate. But 
their humanity was not put to this severe test, for in the 
course of the following night, this poor child resigned 
his breath, and ceased any longer to share their fatigues 
and sorrows. They had left him, as they supposed, 
asleep, near the fire round which they had all rested dur- 
ing the night ; but when they had made their arrange- 
ments for breakfast, and wished to call him to participate, J 
they found that his soul had taken its flight to another 
world. 

Forgetting their own misery they sensibly felt for the 
loss of this tender youth, and the affliction of the stew- 
ard in particular was inexpressible. This child had 
been the object of his fondest care, during a long and 
perilous journey, and it was with the utmost difficulty 
that his companions could tear him from the spot. 

They had not proceeded far before one of the party 
asked for a shell of water, which being given him, he 
solicited a second, and as soon as he had drunk it, lay 
down aud instantly expired. So much were they habit- 
uated to scens of distress, that, by this time, death had 
ceased to be regarded as shocking ; it was even consid- 
ered by them as a consummation rather to be wished for 
than dreaded. They left the poor man where he drop- 



GHOSVENOR INDIAMAN. 81 

ped, and had not advanced far, when another complain- 
ed of extreme weakness, and sat down upon the sand 
by the seaside. Him too they left, compelled by se- 
vere necessity, in-order to seek for wood and water, 
promising, if they were successful, to return to assist 
him. 

Having sought in vain for a comfortable restingplace 
for the night, they were all obliged to repose on the 
sands. Recollecting the situation of their comrade, one 
of the party went back to the spot where he had been 
left, but the unhappy man was not to be found ; and as 
he had nothing to shelter or protect him, it is more than 
probable that he was carried off by wild beasts.^ 

With the first approach of day they resumed their 
journey, but their situation was now more deplorable 
than ever. Having had no water since the middle of 
the preceding day, they suffered exceedingly from thirst, 
the glands of their throats and their mouths were much 
swollen ; and in the extremity of thirst they were indt*- 
ced to swallow their own Urine. 

This was the crisis of calamnity. The misery they 
now underwent was too shocking to relate. Having 
existed for two days without food or water, they were 
reduced to such an extremity, that when any of them 
could not furnish himself with a draught of urine, he would 
borrow a shelffull of his more fortunate companion till he 
was able to repay it. The steward, whose benevolence 
ought to immortalize his memory, now followed his little 
favorite to another world. In short, to such a state of 
wretchedness were they now reduced, that death was 
stripped of all its terrors. 

Next morning two more of the party were reduced 
to a very languid state ; one of them, unable to proceed 
a step farther, lay down, and his companions, incapable 
of affording him any assistance, took an affectionate 
farewell, and left him to expire. 

^Towards evening they reached a deep gully, which 
they entered, in the hope of meeting with fresh water. 
Here they found another of the Grosvenor's crew lying 
dead, with his right hand cut off at the wrist. A cir- 
cumstance so singular could not fail to attract the notice 
of his companions, especially as they recollected that it 



12 £088 CI THE 

had been the common asseveration of the deceased ;— 
May the devil cat my right wm off if it be not true ! It 
had a sensible effect upon his comrades for a time, as 
they superstitiously imagined that Providence had inter- 
fered, by a miracle, to show its indignation against his 
profaneness. 

One of the company, who had lost his own clothes in 
crossing a river, took the opportunity of supplying him- 
self by stripping the dead man, and then they proceeded 
till night, without any other sustenance than what their 
own water afforded them: 

Next day brought no alleviation of their miseries. 
Necessity impelled them to proceed, though hope scarce- 
ly darted a ray through the gloom of their prospects. 
The whole party was, at last, reduced to three -persons, 
Hynes, Evans, and Wormington, and these could hope 
to survive their companions only a very few days. Th^v 
faculties rapidly declined, they could scarcely hear or 
see, and a vertical sun darted its beams so intensely 
upon them, that it was with the utmost difficulty they 
could proceed. 

Their misery, from thirst, now became so intolerable, 
that Wormington earnestly importuned his companions . 
to determine, by lot, which of them should die, in order 
that the others might be presevered by drinking his 
blood. Hynes, though almost childish, was shocked at 
the proposal; his tears flowed abundantly, and he de- 
clared, that as long as he was able to walk he could not 
think of casting lots ; but that, if he should be obliged 
to drop, they might then use him as they pleased. Up- 
on this, Wormington, shaking hands with Hynes and 
Evens, suffered them to proceed without him. 

Every hour now seemed to throw a deeper gloom 
over their fate ; nature could support no more. Hynes 
and Evans, however, made another effort to advance, 
without even indulging a hope of the possibility of re- 
lief. They this day saw something before them which 
had the appearance of large birds, but their surprise may 
be conceived, when, upon a nearer approach, they dis- 
covered them to be men. Nearly' blind and idiots, thejr 
did not at first recollect their newly-found companions, 
but after some time they recognized in them four of the 



GEOSVBNOR INDIAMAfif. 60 

Reward's party from which they had been separated. 
One of them, a boy, named Price, advanced to meet 
them, and gave them the pleasing information, that his 
associates had fresh water in their possession. Tl-ys in- 
spired them with new life, and reciprocal inquiries were 
made relative to the fate of their lost companions. The 
three men whom Hynes and his companion had overta- 
ken, were named Berney, Leary, and De, Lasso, who, 
hearing that Wormington was left behind, the two latter 
went in search of him, charging those who . remained 
not to sirffer Hynes and Evans to drink too freely of the 
water, as several had expired from the eagerness with 
which they swallowed that fluid after long abstinence. 

Wormington was recovered by the humanity of those 
who went in search of him, and a painful detail of suffer- 
ings succeeded. It appeared that the captains's steward 
had been buried in the sand of the last desert over which 
they passed, and that the survivors were reduced to such 
extremity, that after his interment two of the party was 
sent back to cut off his flesh for their immediate support ; 
but while proceeding upon this horrid errand, they had 
the good fortune to disoover a young seal, newly drivei? 
on shore, and fresh bleeding, which proved a most sea- 
sonable relief. They farther, stated, that they had obtain- 
ed shell-fish in the sand, when none were to be seen up- 
on it, by observing the manner in which the birds 
scratched for them. Without this discovery they must 
inevitably have perished. 

Hynes and Evans, recounting their adventures to the 
party they had joined, among other circumstances, men- 
tioned that the ship's steward, whom they had left to 
expire on the road, had on very decent clothes. This 
tempted one of them to propose to Evans, who was by 
this time pretty well recovered, to go back to the spot and 
strip the body, but the steward could not be found, and 
they concluded that the wild beasts had anticipated their 
design. In the evening Evans returned, but without his 
companion, who had been so indolent, and advanced 
with such a slow pace, that the former was obliged to 
leave him behind. As he was never seen afterwards, no 
.doubt can be entertained but that he likewise fell a vic- 
tim to the ravenous beasts. These were so numerous 



84 LOSS OF THE 

as to be seen in troops of twenty or more ; and it was 
the common and effectual practice of the travellers to 
shout as loud as possible to drive away those formidable 
animals. 

Having now arrived at a favorable spot for wate t and 
shell-fish, they employed two days in collecting provisions 
for their future march, and in refreshing themselves. 
Rest and food had an astonishing effect in restoring not 
©nly the powers of the body, but of the mind ; and in a 
short time they thought themselves qualified t<^_ encoun- 
ter new fatigues. 

With extreme difficulty and danger they passed a 
large river, supposed to be the Sontag, on a catamaran, 
and having reached the opposite shore, they looked back 
with teror and amazement on their fortunate escape 
from being driven out to sea by the rapidity of the 
streafn. Here they likewise found a kind of shell -fish 
which buries itself in the sand, and which increased 
their supplies. 

The united party, consisling of six persons, pursued 
their route over a desert country, where neither hut nor 
native was to be seen, and in six days reached the 
Schwartz river, as they afterwards learned, on the 
banks of which they took up their abode for the night. 

The country, at length, began to assume a fertile and 
cultivated appearance, and some huts appeared at a dis- 
tance from the shore. While contemplating with 
pleasure this change of prospect, the grass near them 
took fire, and spread with great rapidity. They all used 
every effort to extinguish it, lest this involuntary mis- 
chief should provoke the resentment of the natives, or 
the blaze call them to the spot. 

Next morning Ihey swam over the river in safety, and 
soon discovered another dead whale lying on the sea 
shore. Thus supplied with food they purposed resting 
here a few days, if they could have found fresh water, 
i)ut that neeessary article being wanting, they cut up as 
much of the whale as they could carry, and proceed d 
on their route. In two hours they came to a thicket, 
where they met with water, and halted to rest. 

Next morning four of the party went back to the 
whale for a larger supply, De Lasso and Price being left 



GROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 85 

ill charge of the fire. As Price was collecting fuel, he 
perceived at a little distance, two men with guns, and 
being intimidated at the sight, he returned hastily to the 
fire, whither the welcome intruders pursued him. These 
men belonged to a Dutch settlement in the neighborhood, 
and were in search of some strayed cattle. One of them, 
named John Battores, supposed to be a, Portuguese wa£ 
able to converse with De Lasso, the Italian, so as to be 
understood, a circumstance as fortunate as it was little 
to be expected. Battores having learned the outline of 
their melancholy story, accompanied them to the whale, 
where their companions were employed in cutting away 
the flesh. Affected at the sight of these miserable ob- 
jects, he desired them to throw away what they had been 
collecting, promising them better fare when they reach- 
ed the habitation to which he belonged. 

In vain shall we attempt to describe the sensations of 
the shipwrecked wanderers on receiving this intelligence, 
and that they were within four hundred miles of the 
Cape. The joy that instantly filled every bosom produ- 
duced effects as various as extraordinary : one man 
laughed, another wept, and the third danced with 
transport. * 

On reaching the house of Mynheer Christopher Roos- 
tooff, to whom Battores was bailiff they were treated 
with the kindest attention. The master, on being .ac- 
quainted with their distress, immediately ordered bread 
and milk to be set before them ; but acting rather on 
principles of humanity than prudence, he furnished 
them such a quantity that their weak stomachs were 
overloaded. After their meal, sacks were spread upon 
the ground for them to repose on. 

It had been so long since they had known any thing 
of the calculation of time, that they were unacquainted 
even with the name of the month ; and they were given 
to understand, that the day of their deliverance was the 
29th of November; so that one hundred and seventeen 
days had revolved their melancholy hours since they were 
shipwrecked ; a period of suffering almost, unparalleled, 
and during which they had often been miraeuiously 
preserved. 

H 



86 LOSS OP THE 

Next morning Mynheer Roostooff killed a sheep for the 
entertainment of his guests, ami another Dutchman, of 
the name of Quin, came with a cart and six horses to 
convey them towards the Cape. The boy, Price, be- 
ing lame, from the hardships he had undergone,- was 
detained at Roostooff's house, who kindly undertook his 
cure, and promised to send him after the others when 
he was recovered. The rest of the party proceeded 
to Quin's house, where they were hospitably entertained 
four days. 

From that time they were forwarded in carts, from 
one settlement to another, till they arrived at Swellen- 
dam, about one hundred miles from the Cape. Wher- 
ever they passed they experienced the humanity of 
the farmers, and their wants were relieved with a libe- 
ral hand. 

At Swellendam they were detained till orders should 
be received from the governor at the Cape, in regard to 
their future destiny, Holland and Great-Britain being at 
that time at war. At length two of the party were or- 
dered to be forwarded to the Cape, in orde*r to be exam- 
ined, while the rest were to remain at Swellendam. Ac- 
cordingly Wormington and Leary proceeded to the Cape, 
where, after being strictly interrogated, they were sent 
on board a Dutch mun of war lying in the bay, with or- 
ders that they should be set to work. While in this situ- 
ation, Wormington having discovered that the boatswain 
was engaged in some fraudulent practices, imprudently 
threatened to give information, on which the boatswain 
desiring him and his companion to step into a boat, con- 
veyed them on Board a Danish East Indiaman, just get- 
ting under weigh, and by this fortunate incident they first 
reached their native land. 

But to Teturn to the fate of the rest. Though the 
ilames of war were ranging between the two nations, the 
Dutch government, at the Cape, being informed of the 
particulars of the loss of the Grosvenor, with a human- 
ity which does them infinite honor, despatched a large 
party in quest of the unhappy wanderers. This detach- 
ment, consisted of one hundred Europeans, and three 
hundred Hottentcts attended by a great number of wag- 
gons, each drawn by eight bullocks. The command 



GR0SVEN0R INDIAMAN. 8? 

was given to Captain Mutter, with orders to proceed, if 
possible, to the wreck, and load with such articles as 
might be saved, and to endeavor to discover such of 
the sufferers as were still wandering about the country, or 
in the hands of the natives. 

De Lasso and Evans accompanied this expedition as 
guides ; but Hynes being still very weak was left at 
Swellendam. The party Was well provided with such 
articles as were most likely to insure them a favorable 
reception from the natives, and procure the liberty of 
the unfortunate persons they might find in their way. 
They proceeded with spirit and alacrity, till the Caffrees, 
in consequence of their antipathy to the colonists, inter- 
rupted the expedition. In their progress they found 
Thomas Lewis, Who had been abandoned by his com- 
panions, as before mentioned, and William Hatterly who 
was servant to the second mate, and had continued 
with that party till he alone survived. Thus the fate 
of one division was ascertained. 

At other places on the road they met with seven 
lascars, and two black women, one of whom was ser- 
vant to Mrs. Logie, and the other to Mrs. Hosea. From 
these women they learned, that soon after Hyne's party 
had left the captain and the ladies, they also took sep- 
arate routes ; the latter intending to join the lascars, but 
what became of them after this separation was un- 
known. They, indeed, saw the captain's coat on one 
of the natives, but whether he died or was killed could 
never be discovered. 

After the enmity of the natives prevented the pro- 
gress of the waggons, some of the party travelled for- 
ward fifteen days on horseback, in the prosecution of. 
their plan, but the Caffrees still continuing to harass them, 
they were obliged to return, after an absence of about 
three months. 

Captain Muller returned to Sweliendam, with the 
three Englishmen, the seven lascars, and two black wo- 
men, the boy, Price, and the two guides, De Lasso and 
Evans. The people of color were detained at Swel- 
iendam ; but the English were forwarded to the Cape, 
where, after being examined by the governor, they 
were permitted to take their passage to Europe in 



88 LOSS OS* THE 

a Danish ship, the captain of which promised to land 
them in England ; but, excepting Price, who was set on 
shore at Weymouth, they were all carried to Co- 
penhagen, from whence they at last found their way to 
England. 

Such was the termination of the adventures of these 
Unfortunate people ; but the inquiry concerning the fate 
ef the captain and his party was not dropped. Though 
it is probable that before the first Dutch expedition could 
have reached them, they had all paid the debt of nature ; 
rumors had been spread that several of the English 
were still in captivity among the natives, and these ob- 
tained such general belief, that M. Valiant, whose phi- 
lanthropy equalled his genius and resolution, made an- 
other attempt to discover the reputed captives ; but 
he could learn nothing decisive as to their situation or 
final fate. 

The public mind, however, cc ntinued still to be agitat- 
ed, and the interest which all nations took in the fate of 
the unhappy persons, particularly the women, some of 
whom it was reported had been seen, induced a second 
party of Dutch colonists, with the sanction of govern- 
ment, to make another effort to explore the country, 
and to reach the wreck. 

These men, amply provided, set out on the 24th of 
August, 1793, from Kaffer Keyl's River, towards Cape 
Natal, on the coast of which the Grosvenor was suppos- 
ed to' have been wrecked. Of this expedition we have 
a journal kept by Van Reenen, one of the party, and 
published by Captain Riou. It would not be generally 
in teres ting to the reader to give the meagre details of 
distance travelled, and elephants killed ; of danger en- 
countered, and rivers crossed ; we shall, therefore con- 
tine ourselves to such incidents as appear to deserve no- 
tice, or are connected with the melancholy subject of 
our narrative. 

After proceeding an immense way, on the 3d of No- 
vember they arrived among the Hambonaas, a nation quite 
different from the Caffrees. They have a yellow com- 
plexion, and their long course hair is frizzled up in the 
form of a turban. Some of these people informed our 
adventurers, that, subject to them, there was a village of • 



GROSVENOR UiiDIAMA.V. 89 

bastard Christians, descended from people shipwrecked 
on the coast, of whom three old women were still alive 
and married to a Hambonaa chief. This intelligence rous- 
ed their curiosity and they were fortunate enough to ob- 
tain an interview with the old women in question, who said 
they were sisters, but having been shipwrecked when 
children, they could not say to what nation they origin- 
ally belonged. The Dutch adventurers offered to take 
them and their children back on their return, at which 
they seemed much pleased. It appears probable, that 
the reports which had been spread, in regard to some 
European women being among the natives, originated 
from this circumstance, and as the existence of any oth- 
er white people in this quarter was neither known nor 
suspected, it was naturally concluded that they must 
have belonged to the Grosvenor. 

The Dutch afterwards fell in with Trout, whose name 
has been mentioned in the preceeding narrative. He at 
first engaged to conduct them to the spot where the 
Grosvenor was wrecked, and informed them that noth- 
ing was then to be seen, excepting some cannon, iron, 
ballast, and lead ; adding, that all the unfortunate crew 
of that ship had perished, some, by the hands of the 
natives, and the rest of hunger. 

Trout, who, it is to be feared, was guilty of much du- 
plicity from the first, pretended that he was a freeman, 
and had sailed in an English ship from Malacca ; but find- 
ing himself likely to be detected, and probably appreheiL* 
sive of being carried back to the Cape, he cautiously 
avoided the Dutch in the sequel, and left them to find 
their way to the wreck in the best manner they were 
able. 

As they were proceeding to the spot, one of the party., 
©amed Houltshausen, unfortunately fell into a pit of 
burnt stakes, by which he was terribly wounded in the 
palm of one of his hands, which eventually produced a 
locked jaw, and terminated in his death. These pits are 
dug by the natives, and being covered over with branches 
of trees and grass, serve as snares for the elephants, 
which frequently fall into them, and are thus taken. 

Several of the party, however, proceeded on horse- 
back to the wreck, and found nothing more than what 
H2 



90 LOSS OF THE 

Trout had described remaining. It was plainly perceived 
that fires had been made in the vicinity, and on a rising 
ground, between two woods was a pit, where things had 
been buried and dug out again. This likewise tallied 
with the information of Trout, who told them that all the 
articles collected from the wreck, had been dispersed 
ever the country, and that most of them had been carried 
to Rio de la Goa, to be sold. That place was represent- 
ed to be about four days journey from the scene of the 
catastrophe. 

The natives in the neighborhood expressed great as- 
tonishment that the Dutch had been at such infinite pains 
to come in search of the unfortunate crew, and they all 
promised that in case of any similar disaster, they would 
protect such people as might be thrown upon the cqast, 
if they could be assured of obtaining beads, copper, and 
iron, for their trouble, which was liberally promised by 
the Dutch. 

These intrepid adventurers, who w T ere now 437 leagues 
distant from the Cape, and 226 beyond any Christian ha- 
bitation, finding that nothing farther was to be discovered 
relative to the wreck, or the fate of the persons who had 
reached the shore, determined to return, particularly as 
Houltshausen's illness increased. 

On their way back they called at the bastard Christian 
village, and would have taken under their protection the 
three old women, who seemed desirous of living among 
Christians, but they wished first to gather in their crops ; 
•adding, when that business was accomplished, their 
whole race, to the number of four hundred, would be 
happy to depart from their present settlement. . Every 
indulgence was promised them in case they should be 
disposed to emigrate to the Cape. On seeing people of 
the same complexion as themselves they appeared to be 
exceedingly agitated. 

On their homeward journey the Dutch shot many 
elephants and sea-cows ; but on the first of December 
ihey met with a terrible accident, while employed in 
cutting up the sea-cows killed the preceding day. " As 
we were thus engaged, (says the journalist.) a large 
elephant made up to the waggons ; we instantly pursued 
and attacked him, when, having received several shot, 



GROSVENOR 1NDIAMAN7 91 

by which he twice fell, he crept into a very thick under- 
wood. Thinking we had killed him, Tjaart Vander 
Valdt, Lodewyk Prins, and Ignatus Mulder, advanced to 
the spot, when he rushed out furiously from the thicket, 
and catching hold of Prins with his trunk, trod him to 
death, driving one of his tusks through the body, and 
throwing it up into the air to the height of thirty feet. 

" The others perceiving that there was no possibility 
of escaping on horseback, dismounted, and crept into 
the thicket to hide themselves. The elephant seeing 
nothing in view but one of the horses, followed him for 
some time, and then turning about came back to the 
spot where the dead man was left. At this instant our 
whole party renewed the attack, and after he had re- 
ceived several more wounds, again escaped into the 
thickest part of the wood. 

" We now supposed ourselves safe, but while we were 
digging a grave for our unfortunate companion, the 
elephant rushed out again, and drove us all from the 
place. Tjaart Vander Valdt got another shot at him ; 
a joint attack being commenced, he began to stagger, 
and falling, the Hottentots despatched him as he lay on 
the ground." 

The rest of their journey afforded little worth notice/ 
In January, 1791, they reached their respective homes^ 
after surmounting incredible difficulties, in an expedition 
to which they were prompted solely by a principle of 
humanity, and the desire of relieving, if any remained* 
alive, such of our countrymen as might be among the 
natives. No intelligence of this kind could, however, 
after the most diligent inquiries, be obtained. They 
were, indeed, informed that the ship's cook had been 
alive about two years before the period of their journey, 
but that he then caught the smali pox and died. 

We cannot conclude this mournful narrative better 
than with the sensible reflections of Captain Riou.* 

" Had the party, (says he) that set out in search of 
these shipwrecked people, in 1783, prosecuted their 
journey with the same degree of zeal and resolution that 
Van Reenen's party manifested, it is possible they might 
have discovered and relieved some who have since per- 
ished. Yet, as they cculd not have arrived at the place 



Hi* LOSS OP THE 

of the wreck in less than six months after the disaster 
happened, there is no great probability for supposing, 
that after such a length of time had elapsed, any great 
number of the unfortunate sufferers could be remaining 
alive. 

" But what we have most to regret is, that, perhaps, 
the faliure of the endeavors of the unfortunate crew to 
save their lives, was owing to their own misconduct. It 
is too often the case, that disorder and confusion are the 
consequences of extreme distress, and that despair seiz- 
ing on the unprincipled mind, hurries it on to a subver- 
sion of all good order and discipline : so that at the mo- 
ment when the joint efforts of the whole are most ne- 
cessary for the general good, each desponding thoughtless 
member acts from the impulse of the moment, in what- 
ever manner his tumultuous feelings may direct ; and 
from an erroneous idea of self-interest, or, wonderful as 
it may appear, from a desire of gratifying a rebellious 
and turbulent spirit, at a time when it can be done with 
impunity, is always ready to overturn every plan that 
may be proposed by his superiors, and the considerate 
few that happen to be of the party. 

" Such must have been, and such we are indeed told 
was the situation of the crew of the Grosvenor subse- 
quent to their shipwreck. 

" Though it may be said to be very easy to see er- 
rors when their consequences are apparent, it will not 
surely be too much to assert, that when this ship's crew 
was once safely on shore, with the advantage of such 
articles as they could procure from the wreck, their situa- 
tion, however deplorable, could not be considered as 
hopeless. For had a chosen body of ten or twenty men 
inarched a few days to the northward^ they must have 
fallen in with Rio de la Goa, where it seldom happens 
that there is not a French or Portuguese slave ship. But 
allowing Captain Coxson was much out of his reckoning, 
and that he supposed himself much nearer to the Cape 
than he really was, they might then have existed on the 
sea coast, in that climate, sheltered by huts, till ready to 
set out, and by preserving order and discipline, and con- 
ducting themselves properly in regard to the natives, 



CfcROSVENOR INDIAMAN. 93 

they might gradually have proceeded in safety to the 
territories of the Dutch. 

" Had the crew continued under the orders of their 
officers, either of those objects might have been accom- 
plished, by men whose minds were not wholly resigned to 
despair ; or they might have subsisted on what provision 
they could pick up from the wreck, together with what 
they could purchase from the natives, till a boat could 
have been constructed and sent to solicit assistance from 
the Cape. 

" These reflections have been extended by considering 
the circumstances in which the shipwrecked people w r ere 
placed ; from all which it may fairly be concluded, that 
the greater part might have effected a return to their na- 
tive land, had they been guided by any idea of the ad- 
vantages of discipline and subordination. 

" It is to be hoped, then, that the fatal consequences 
attending disorderly conduct on these calamitous occa- 
sions, will impress on the minds of seamen this incor^ 
troveriible truth, that their only hope of safety mpst de- 
pend upon obedience." 



9^ 



SHIPWRECK OF THE 

ENGLISH EAST-INDIAMAN, THE FATTYSALEM. 

On the Coast qf Coromandel, August 2&th, 1761. 



JL HE following narrative of the loss of the Fat- 
ty salam is given in a letter from M. de Kearney, a cap- 
tain in Lally's regiment, who was taken prisoner by the 
English, to the Count D'Estaing, Lieutenant-General, 
commanding the French troops in the East-Indies, during 
the war of 1756. 

Some time after your departure from India, (says M. 
de Kerney,) I was taken prisoner by the English, at the 
battle of Vandevachy, a small Fort between Madras and 
Pondicherry. My conquerors treated me with the 
greatest generosity, and even did all in their power to 
save my effects. But I lost every thing I had taken with 
me for the campaign ; the seapoys plundered me without 
mercy. You are acquainted with that undisciplined mi- 
litia : they do not comprehend that it is possible to treat 
as friends; that is, to spare as much as possible those 
who have been, and may again be their enemies. 

I slept one night in the English camp, and Colonel 
Calliot paid me the greatest attention. The next day I 
obtained permission to go on my parole to Pondicherry, 
where I remained several months, and made every 
possible exertion to procure my exchange. When the 
place was invested by the English, I was summoned, 
together with the other prisoners of war, to repair to 
Madras. I accordingly went to that place, where I 
found almost two thirds of the officers of the king's 
army, taken on different occasions. I was, therefore, at 
Madras when the English, having made themselves mas- 
ters of Pondicherry, resolved to send all the French 



LOSS OF THE FATTYSALAM, 95 

officers to England. I was, in consequence, directed to 
hold myself in readiness for embarking ; Lord Pigott, the 
Gov. of Madras, kindly permitted me to choose the way 
by which I wished to be conveyed to England. I chose 
that of Bengal, on account of the good accommoda- 
tions which Lord Pigott had provided me on board 
the Hawk, and I shall never forget the favors and 
civilities he conferred upon me. By this arrangement 
I hoped to alleviate the hardships and fatigues of my 
passage to Europe. The apprehensions arising 
from the prospect of such a long voyage, with up- 
wards of fifty prisoners of war, of all descriptions, 
confined within a narrow compass, and suffering ma- 
ny inconveniencies ; but, above all, the necessity to 
which, as I was informed, we should be reduced, of liv- 
ing seven or eight months on salt provisions, though 
the company had given orders to the contrary, induced 
me to take this step, as the safest under such circum- 
stances. It was however, the cause of all my subse- 
quent misfortunes. 

The Hawk, in which I was to be conveyed to Europe 
proceeded without me from Madras to Bengal, because 
I had not yet settled all my affairs. I was, therefore 
ordered to prepare to join her by the first opportunity 
that should offer, and which could not be far distant in 
a season when vessels were sailing every week for 
the gulf. 

The first ship that happened to depart was the Fat- 
tysalam, which had been built at Bombay and had nev- 
er been employed but in the India seas. She was in- 
tended to carry great part of the stores taken by t!*e 
English, and near 500 troops, which had been thought 
fit to send to Bengal, because after the reduction of Pon- 
dicherry, they were not wanted on that coast. 

In this unfortunate vessel I embarked on the 26th of 
August, 1761, and the same day set sail. On the 28th 
between ten and eleven in the morning the captain of 
the ship, hi confidence, told Major Gordon, the princi- 
pal officer of the troops, that there were seven feet water 
in the hold, that no thwith standing the exertions of the 
men, the water continued to gain upon them, and (hat 
the ship could not live above two hours longer. 



96 LOSS OF THE FATTYSALAM. 

When the people had been nearly two hours employ- 
ed lightening the vessel, by throwing every thing over- 
board, I kept a watchful eye upon the captain. I saw 
him speaking to the Major, with an air of consterna- 
tion, denoting the greatest misfortune. I advanced tow- 
ards them and asked in a whisper, in English, what was 
the matter. Major Gordon with a tremulous voice re- 
peated what he had just heard of the captain. Struck 
with the dreadful intelligence, but not deprived of the 
power of scting, I instantly formed my resolution. Cut- 
ting short all useless words, I only asked the captain if 
we might not save ourselves by taking possession of the 
boat which was laden with pigs, arid in tow astern of the 
vessel. He replied with the most dejected and discour- 
aging look, that this expedient would only cause us to 
survive a few hours, those we should leave on board ; 
and he did not think this measure practicable among so 
many soldiers and sailors. This answer convinced me 
thai the pusillanimous captain had no resource. I told 
him we would undertake the execution of the design, 
and that, for his part, he had only to observe two points, 
not to mention it to others, and to follow when he should 
see us in the fatal boat. He immediately left us. The 
major and I being left together, concerted our escape 
from the vessel, which we executed in less than 
two minutes. He decended from the deck by a 
private ladder, into the great cabin, to inform the 
officers of his regiment, who might chance to be 
there, of our design, for the moments were too precious 
to go els where to seek them. For my part, I called 
my servant, a trusty fellow, on whom I could depend. 
He had been a soldier in my company, and had likewise 
been taken prisoner; but I had obtained his liberty of 
Lord Pigott. I told him in few words our intention. 
I immediately shut the door, that the people might 
not see us from the forecastle. As the ship, though ve- 
ry large, had no ga%ry, I directed my servant to go out 
at one of the windows of the cabin, and by fcteans of a 
rope he let himself down into the boat. I had previ- 
ously furnished him with my sword and a hatchet, order- 
ing him to despatch without mercy all that attempted to 
get into the boat, excepting they came from the spot 



LOSS OP THE FATTTSALA5I. 97 

where I was stationed to conduct our decent. Every- 
thing was executed in the best manner ; this intelligent 
servant kept the boat for us till all those whom it was 
intended 1 to receive, had descended, and our little em- 
barkation was effected with such success and expedition 
that he was not under the necessity of making use of 
his weapons. As soon as the captain, who through his 
irresolution had nearly lost the boat, had entered with 
the rest, the first thing we did was to cut the rope by 
which she was fastened to the vessel, and to push off, 
so that in a short time we had got a considerable 
distance. 

We were now in an open boat, abandoned to the im- 
pulse of the wind and waves, to the number of twenty-five 
persons, among whom were two young ladies, the wives 
of English officers, in Coote's regiment, all badly ac- 
commodated, ill-clothed, and mixed higgledy piggledy" 
with the hogs. Our first purpose was to make room, 
for which purpose we began to throw the pigs overboard ; 
but a lucky reflection of one of the company, caused 
us to keep seven, in order, that at all events, we might 
not be reduced to the horrible necessity of devouring 
each other, which must have been the case without this, 
wretched resource. Having thus cleared the boat a little, 
we were obliged to attend to another point equally press- 
ing. Each of us took off his coat or waist-coat, to 
make a sail to our bark, and even the ladies were each 
obliged to give one of the petticoats they had on, which 
were only of muslin. Ail these things being joined and 
tied together, with our handkerchiefs torn into slips, 
formed a kind of sail, equally weak and awk\uu*d. 

While we werethus employed, the unfortunate crew 
kept making signals that every thing was repaired, with 
a view to induce us to return. This artifice was employ- 
ed by our wretched companions, in the hope of saving 
themselves in our boat. If we had been so weak as to 
listen to our captain, who fell into such an evident snare, 
we should have gone back, and all have perished togeth- 
er. We, however, took care not to go near them, and 
it was fortunate for us that we did ; for a few minutes 
afterwards the ship presented the most distressing spec 
I 



98 LOSS OF THE FATTYSALAM. 

tacle. She was no longer under government ; sanje- 
Times she drifted away, and at others she turned round 
like a whirlwind. Soon afterwmrds oneof the m$sts 
went by th« board ; another followed, and the4Rird1vent 
next. The ship was now a cheer-hulk, still floating at 
the will of tfee waves ; but which appeared to be kept 
afloat only by the incessant exertions of the poor wretch- 
es, whose piercing cries filled us with horror. A fog 
came on ; we could no longer distinguish the vessel, and 
she must in a short time have gone to the bottom. 

It is always by comparison, that we are fortunate or 
miserable. What great reason had we to thank Heaven 
for having preserved us from the fate to which between 
five and six hundred persons left on board were doom- 
ed ? But what was the price of our escape ? For 
what miseries reserved ? And, how melancholy our 
situation ! 

In the open sea, in a crazy boat, which a single wave 
would have sent to the bottom, in the hand of Provi- 
dence, without compass, or any other rigging than our 
little sail, which required all our attention. 

We had 4 not a drop of water, jior provisions of any 
/kind. Constantly wet with* the waves which entered 
our boat, and continually emplo} 7 ed in bailing the water, 
with which we were incessantly inundated ; and, not- 
withstanding this fatiguing labor, were shivering with 
cold, because we had very few clothes to cover our- 
selves, and those few were thoroughly soaked. In this 
state we floated at the mercy of the waves seven days 
and seven nights. 

Our Oxily nourishment was a spoonful and a half of 
pig's blood, distributed to each every twenty-four hours ; 
for in order to allow two spoonfuls, it was necessary to 
mix with it a little salt water ; and never was any thing 
more exactly measured than this scanty pittance. Ma- 
ny of us, whose appetites and stomachs were equally 
good, eat the flesh of the pigs quite raw T , and we killed 
one each day, so that on the seventh we had nothing 
left. My principal regale was the lirer, or coagu- 
lated blood, which I only sucked, and then spit if 
out. My servant, our butcher, always reserve! 
part for me. 



IA>£9 OP THE FATTYSALAM, 99 

Soon after twelve o'clock of the seventh night, we 
thought we heard a noise, that at first appeared very 
strange, but which we afterwards judged to proceed from 
(he dashing of breakers against the rocks, or against 
some shore. We floated between fear and joy, and im- 
patiently waited for day- light. That light, so slow in Its 
approach, at length arrived, and every thing disappeared. 
Judge of the revolution produced in our minds and bo- 
dies by this vain hope destroyed, as soon as conceived. 
It plunged us, into such profound consternation, that we 
should not have been able to bear up against it, had 
not the hand of the Almighty speedily afforded relief. 

About seven the same morning, one of the company 
cried out, " Land, or something like it." We now dis- 
tinguished in the horizon a speck which our ardent der-iie 
to meet with land, actually caused us to take for^siich. 
Nature was once more animated by a ray of hope. We 
directed our course towards the point which appeared 
in the horizon, and at nine began to distinguish hrHs, but 
saw no land till we were on the beach, because the 
shore is so extremely low. It is impossible to describe 
the effect this cheering sight produced upon us. I will, 
however, endeavor to give you some idea of it. We 
all immediately experienced a certain impression of joy, 
vigor of life, with which our souls were penetrated, as a 
person is penetrated by the heat, when after enduring 
excessive cold, he comes to a good fire, whose genial 
influence re-animates his benumbed powers. We felt a 
delicious sensation of our feeble existence, and this sen- 
sation diffused through all our faculties, seemed to re- 
store us to new life. It is only those who have heen in 
the same situation that can know the inexpressible en- 
joyment of a moment of which assuredly no other situa- 
tion in life can afford an idea. 

The question now was how to disembark. Here we 
were under some embarrassment ; for the surf was very 
strong, and the desert appearance of the coast, on which 
we discovered neither house, nor inhabitants, nor 
chelinguis, (small boats, which are used in the East-In- 
dies for embarking and going on shore), were a more 
convincing proof than the assertion of the pusillanimous 
captain, that no European boat had ever landed there. 



100 LOSS OF THE FATTV3AI/AM. 

A consultation was held, in which it was resolved fa 
make the attempt, to let tiiose save themselves who could. 
This opinion supported by those who could swim, and 
particularly by the captain, who even declared that he 
was sure of getting on shore safe, was too contrary to 
humanity to be adopted by good sense. It was the same 
as condemning those who unfortunately were not famil- 
iar with the water, and in particular the two females, 
and myself, who knew no more how to swim than they, 
to almost inevitable death, at least, excepting the Al- 
mighty should work a new miracle in our behalf. I 
reprobated the measure, and told the captain in a firm 
tone, that it should not be executed as long as I had 
breath ; that since part of the company were in the same 
predicament with myself, and my servant, whose life 
was as dear to me as my own, it was their duty to steer 
the boat in such a manner, that we might all get to land 
m safety. I added, holding my sword drawn before 
liim, that he should answer with his life, for that of eve- 
ry individual. 

At these words an English officer, of the name of 
Scott, a hot-headed man, and almost inclined to the 
most violent measures, exclaimed, " What ! does a 
.single Frenchman, and prisoner of war, here pretend to 
give law to us, and dare to call us barbarians ?" — " Sir," 
said I, calmly, " our common misfortune renders us all 
equal ; I am free here as well as you, and repeat it at 
the risk of all the satisfaction that may be demanded of 
me when on shore, the captain shall answer with his life, 
for the lives of all our companions." 

The captain being intimidated, ordered two Lascars, 
good swimmers, that had escaped with us, to place 
themselves beside me, and not to quit me till I was on 
shore. He then went to the helm, and managed so skil- 
fully, or rather with such good fortune, that we ran 
aground without any accident. In consequence, howev- 
er, of a very natural impatience, twelve of our compan- 
ions, the moment the boat struck, leaped into the water, 
and even some of those who could swim nearly perished 
They were besides separated from us, the boat being 
thrown by two waves into a river, which we did not per- 
ceive till we had entered it. Thh river was so rapid that 



LOSS OF THE FATTYSALAM. 10 1 

onr boat was soon driven aground, and we thus had an 
opportunity of getting on shore. 

I wish I could describe this moment ; but how shall 
I trace it with all its circumstances, with the simplicity, 
the energy, the truth of nature. We scarcely felt the 
ground, when each occupied only with himself and the 
single sentiment of his own preservation, no longer 
thought of his companions. Our eyes sought only fresh 
water, and something to prolong our existence. We 
perceived a small lake, and we instantly ran to its banks, 
plunging overhead in the water like ducks, to allay a 
dreadful thirst, a thirst of seven whole days, to which the 
heat of a burning fever bears no comparison. It would . 
be necessary to have endured, for the same length of 
time, the devouring fire of thirst j of all human w? i ts the 
most insupportable, and the most pressing, to form any 
conception of ours, and our eagerness to appease it. In 
such a situation, the sufferer would give for a glass of 
water, all the gold and all the diamonds of India : he 
would give the world. From this you may judge of our 
protracted sufferings, our transports on the banks of the 
lake, and the delight we experienced. Having drank 
our fill, we began some -to eat the grass, and others the 
shell -fish, which fortunately happened to be on the spot 
where we landed, and during forty-eight hours, w e :iad 
no other nourishment: 

We now began to be distressed at ou^ separation into 
two parties. We endeavored to join each other again, 
but being prevented by the depth of the torre^ that 
separatee! us, each company began to march towards 
the interior of the country, in quest of some habitation. 
The country belonged to the dominions of the Rajah of 
Arsapour, situated near the mouth of the Ganges. Wo 
had not ^advanced far, when a snare was laid for us by 
the natives, that they might the more easily get us into 
their power. Two fishermen by whom we had been 
discovered, were directed to tell us. to remain where we 
were. Tliey assured us that the sovereign of the place 
was informed of our arrival in his dominions, that he 
was acquainted With our disaster, and our unfortunate 
situation, and that being a prince of a benevolent dispo- 
sition he. -would very soon send us relief of every kind 



102 LOSS OF THE FATTYSALAM. 

A few hours afterwards a quantity of rice and hog's lard 
was actually brought us, with the Rajah's compliments, 
and a promise that the following day we should be shel- 
tered from the inclemency of the air, and particularly 
the night dews, which was very dangerous in that cli- 
mate. This promise they punctually performed, for the 
next day people came to fetch us, but it was for the pur- 
pose of conducting us to a small island, to be kept as 
prisoners. Each of the two divisions was conducted by 
a different route, and we knew not what had become of 
the other. There we remained seven weeks, having no 
other nourishment than black rice, on paying for it, and 
, twice a week detestible salt- fish ; and to procure even 
this we were obliged to sell every thing we had about us. 
We, ". owever, found means to tame two blacks, to 
whose care we were consigned, and to procure of them 
some hululgeiicies. One of our ladies, Mrs. Tait, a na- 
tive of Ireland, who had a good voice, sung them some 
English songs, to which they listened with great pleasure, 
though they understood not a word of them. This com- 
plaisance obtained us from time to time some fruits and 
other refreshments. The w^ler we had to drink was so 
unwholesome, that out of the two companies thirteen 
died, and the twelve survivors were all attacked with 
fevers or dropsies, and were either livid or yellow, 
i\nd so disfigured, that no one would have taken uf for 
Europeans. 

But as no distress is so great as to deprive men of all 
hope or the power of relieving themselves from it, so 
oar attention was incessantly directed towards the means 
of escaping from our island. The two lascars who were 
in our company, appeared likely to aid us in the design. 
With a pencil, which one of the ladies chanced to have 
preserved, we wrote a note to Barasole, where the Eng- 
lish have a small factory. This we prevailed upon the 
lascars to take, promising them a considerable sum of 
money, if we should be released from captivity, and on 
our arrival at the first European settlement. The lascars 
complied with our desire, and notwithstanding the diffi- 
culties of the journey, they set otf. They were obliged 
'o swim across three or four very large rivers, and al- 
ways to travel in the night, to prevent being discovered 



LOSS OF THE FATTYSALAM. 103 

by the natives. Having escaped many dangers by their 
dexterity, or surmounted them by their boldness and 
perseverance, they at length arrived at Cattack the resi- 
dence of a Rajah, or chief of the Mahrattas. On their 
arrival at that place they were carried before the Rajah, 
and being interrogated respecting their business there, 
they gave an account of our shipwreck, the manner in 
which we had escaped, the distresses we had since expe- 
rienced, and our confinement by the Rajah of Arsapour, 
They did not forget to add that we had with us two young 
white women, and that the men were people of conse- 
quence. The Mahratta chief then inquired if the men 
were proper for soldies ; likewise asked whether the wo- 
men were very fair, and handsome enough for his se- 
raglio. The lascars having satisfied him relative to these 
particulars, the Rajah immediately sent for the son of 
the Rajah of Arsapour, who was then his hostage, and 
ordered him to write to his father, to send off to Cat- 
tack immediately on receipt of his letter, the Europeans, 
both men and women, whom he had, for two months, 
kept prisoners in an island. Conformably to the policy- 
of all the petty sovereigns of India, he likewise took 
care to order that we might be sent by the worst and least 
frequented roads, to conceal us as much as possible from 
the sight of the natives. The order for our departure 
having been separately to the two parties, we set off with 
our guides, and had proceeded some hours, when we 
met. We had been parted two months, and during this 
interval had received no tidings of each other ; you may 
therefore conceive how great our joy on seeing one an- 
other again. We mutually learned the death of those of 
our companions, which each party had lost ; and skele- 
tons, walking spectres, that could scarcely walk, con-' 
gratulated each other on being still alive. 

The distance to Cattack was fourteen days' journey ; 
this we travelled on foot, and almost without shoes . 
Our journeys were very short, because we were all ill, 
and exhausted with fatigue ; besides, our way led almost 
continually through marshes, up to our waists in mud. 
We .had several large rivers to cross, in the passage of 
which those who could swim assisted the others. The 
two young English women, who certainly were not fani}.- 



104 LOSS OF THE FATTY6ALAM. 

ed for such hardships, were«in a most deplorable con- 
dition, and the sufferings of these poor creatures seemed 
to aggravate our own distresses. One of them, Mrs. 
Nelson, died four days before we reached Cattack but the 
other, though three months advanced in her pregnancy, 
was so fortunate as to arrive at that place in safety. 

Although exhausted with fatigue at the end of each 
day's journey, we were obliged to pass the night under 
trees, because the people of the country would not per- 
mit us to set foot in their houses, the exercise of hospi- 
tality towards Europeans being prohibited by their reli- 
gion. We, at length, arrived at Cattack, but some sev- 
eral days before the others. There we learned that the 
English had a factory in the place and repaired thither 
immediately ; but we found only some seapoys in the 
Company's pay, and not a single European. The sea- 
poys received us with great kindness, and moved by our 
situation, they first went to the bazar, or market, to pro- 
cure us some bread. This we greedily devoured, drink- 
ing water, which they gave us, and thus made a delicious 
repast. We congratulated one another on finding our- 
selves under a roof, and sheltered from the inclemency 
of the air ; we then lay down and slrpt. \ We expected 
the next day that the Mahratta chief would send some 
orders relative to us, but he was then on a tour in the 
country. His minister took no notice of us, and allowed 
us nothing to subsist upon. The seapoys, therefore, con' 
tinned to maintain us in the best manner they were able. 

During our journey from the island in which we had 
been confined to Cattack, the two lascars who had effect- 
ed our release, and had concealed from tiie Mahratta 
chief the commission with which they were intrusted by 
us, proceeded on their route, and arrived at Barrasole, 
where they acquainted the English with our situation. 
They then went to Calcutta, and called upon Mr. Van 
Sittart, the English Governor of Bengal. Tpe Governor 
lost no time in sending us relief; but, on account of the 
distance, we did not receive it till twenty or twenty-five 
days after our arrival at Cattack. He used all his influ- 
v.Uh the Mahrattas io obtain our liberty, but as 
they were not. at that time, on very s;ocd terms with the 
Company, tiny refuse*.! to grant this favor to zuerchants. 



LOSS OF THE FATTYSALA2J. 105 

It was, therefore, necessary that Colonel Coote, the 
conqueror of India, should demand our release, which 
he obtained without difficulty. 

Our Company was soon anxious to repair to Barrasole, 
at the distance of six days journey. As for me and my 
faithful servant we did not wait for the general order to 
depart, but set off before the rest. I had found at Cat- 
tack an European, a native of Russia, who had been a 
gunner in M. de Bussy's army, and was now an artillery 
officer in the service of the Mahrattas. As he under- 
stood and could speak the French language, I endeavor- 
ed, without informing him who I was, to learn his senti- 
ments relative to M. de Bussy. He assured me that it 
was he who had given the Asiatics the highest idea of the 
Europeans, that he should regret him all his life, and 
should never cease to adore him ; these were his ex- 
pressions. On this I told him I was a Frenchman, and 
prisoner of war to the English ; that I had with me a 
servant, to whom I was strongly attached, and that I 
was desirous of leaving Cattack as speedily as possible. 
He replied that he would procure me permission to leave 
the place, provided the others should know nothing of 
the matter till the moment of our departuFe. I kept the 
secret, and he actually obtained a kind of permission 
for me and my servant. I immediately hired two 
dooleys, a kind of hand-barrow carried by men. To 
pay for these and to support us on our journey, I sold my 
stock-buekie and sleeve-buttons, the only thirds I had 
left. I then took leave of my companions, frankly in- 
forming them how and by what means I had obtained 
permission to depart, that they might employ the same 
method. 

Our journey to Barrasole had nearly proved fatal to Us ; 
being twice attacked by tigers, and had the pain to see a 
Moor that had been very serviceable to us several times, 
in our distress, carried off at the distance of a few paces 
from us, by one of these cruel animals. The same 
■ tiger, after dispatching the unfortunate man, came again 
out of the wood, and gazed on us with a most terrible 
look, br. f keeping close together, our firmness, and the 
noise we made, obliged him to retire, 



106 LOSS OP THE FATTYSALAM. 

On my arrival at Barrasole, I met with some English- 
men going to embark for Bengal. They proposed to 
to me to accompany them. I had scarcely time to drink 
a glass, and went on board. 

We were six or seven days in reaching Calcutta, it 
being so very difficult to ascend the Ganges, and were 
again near perishing in this short passage, Where you 
meet with rocks upon rocks, and dangers upon dangers. 
When we had arrived #t Goupil, I saw several of the 
East-India Company's ships, and begged the English to 
let me go on board one of them. They perceived that 
both myself and my servant were sick, exhausted, and 
in want of every thing ; therefore, at the expense of two 
rupees, all the money I had left, I procured a boat to 
carry me on board the Plassy, commanded by Captain 
Ward. Whsii I had got on board this ship, I imagined 
my hardships at an end, and every thing was almost 
forgotten. The first person I spoke to was Mr. White, 
a captain of the Company's troops. He took my ser- 
vant and me for two soldiers who had been robbed ; our 
figure and dress, equally worthy of pi*y, announced the 
most miserable condition. This generous Englishman, 
addressing himself to me, said, in his own language : — 
" Poor soldier ! you are badly equipped. Who are you, 
and Whence do you come ?" I replied in English, " you 
are right, I am a soldier, and my servant there is one 
likewise ; we think ourselves very fortunate in.Jbeing still 
in existttce." I added, thai I was one out of twelve 
who had escaped from the ship Fattysalam, which had 
been lost, together with the crew, on the coast of Coro- 
mandel ; that I \«as indebted for my life, in the first 
place, to my soldiers' courage, and in the next, to the 
exertions of my servant, whom he saw overwhelmed 
with disease, and unable to stand ; and concluded with 
telling him my name and rank. Mr. White immediately 
went to his cabin, and brought me a change of clothes 
from head to foot, of which I certainly stood in great 
need, for I had for ten weeks worn the same shirt, all in 
tatters ; my servant only dipped it from time to time in 
water, to ease me a little. The poor fellow, who was 
quite naked, was likewise supplied with clothes. Mr. 



LOSS OP TIIE FATTYSAIiAM. 107 

White then presented me with some chocolate and some- 
thing to eat ; but I was so weak that the smell only of 
the chocolate had nearly made me faint, and I could 
not eat any thing. I drank some tea, and that was all I 
could get down. I received a thousand other civilities 
from this worthy man, and the captain shewed me equal 
kindness. When I had changed my things and taken 
my tea, those gentlemen proposed to me to go up t£ie 
Ganges to Calcutta with them, in a vessel that was just 
going to set off. I consented, but npt without great re- 
gret, at being obliged to leave behind me in the vessel 
my faithful companion, who was attacked with a violent 
fever. However, as there was no other alternative, and 
as the kindness of those gentlemen, both to him and to 
me, rendered me easy with regard to his fate, I left him, 
but not without great reluctance. He died soon after- • 
wards in the English hospital at Calcutta. 

We arrived at that place the next day. I went to the 
governor, Mr. Van Sittart, who received me with great 
humanity, and assigned me, as a prisoner of war, 120 
rupees per month for my subsistence. I was in -great 
want, and he did not make me any advance. I had re- 
course to my benefactor, Mr. White, who lent me 300 
rupees, which I expended in the purchase of linen and 
clothes. I was two months without drawing the allow- 
ance assigned me by the governor. I was about to 
receive it, when I suddenly received an order to 
embark in the Hawk, which was still on the coast. 
I was sick, and had no linen made up, nor any thing 
necessary to set out on so long a voyage. I was, Jiow- 
ever, pressed to set off. Colonel Coote had the kind- 
ness to defer my departure, and the Hawk sailed without 
me. I therefore had time to equip myself. I flattered 
myself ihat Mr. Van Sittart, to whom, in the quality of 
an officer of the king's etat-major and captain of his 
forces, I offered the necessary securities, or bills of ex- 
change on the French East-India Company, would ad- 
vance me a sum to pay the debts which my situation 
had obliged me to contract : but in this hope I found 
myself mistaken. I mentioned this subject shortly 
before my departure to Colonel Coote, who sent me 



108 LOSS OF THE FATTT3ALAM. 

300 rupees. The governor hearing of it, likewise trans- 
mitted me 400. This was all I received from him, and 
I could not help receiving this scanty relief, that I might 
leave no debts behind me. 

On the 2d of February, I left Calcutta and returned to 
Goupil, on the Ganges, where I embarked in the Hol- 
dernesse, commanded by Captain Brooke. I was receiv- 
ed with great kindness by the captain, who had on board 
thirteen or fourteen other French officers, prisoners like 
myself. The ship arrived without accident, and after 
a month's residence at London, I was permitted io re- 
turn to France. 



409 



THE LOSS OF 



HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP LITCHFIELD, 

®f Fifty Gkins, on the Coast ofBarbary, Nov. 30, 1758, 
(By Lieutenant Souiherkmd.) 



JL HE Litchfield, Captain Barton, left Ireland on 
the 11th of November, 1758, in company with several 
other men of war and transports, under the command of 
Commodore Keppel, intended for the reduction of 
Goree. The voyage was prosperous till the 29th, when 
at eight m the evening I took charge of the watch, and 
the weather turned out Very squally, with rain. At nii;e 
rt was extremely dark, with much lightning, the wind 
varying from S. W. to W. N. Yv r . At half past nine, had 
a very hard squall. Captain Barton came upon deck 
and staid till ten; and then left orders to keep sight of 
the Commodore, and make what sail the weather would 
permit. At eleven saw the Commodore bearing south, 
but the squalls coming on so heavy, we were obliged to 
hand the main top- sail, and at twelve o'clock, were under 
our courses. 

November 30th, at one in the morning, Heft the deck 
in charge of the first lieutenant ; the light, which we took 
to be the Commodore's, right ahead, bearing S. wind 
W. S. W. blowing very hard. At six in the morning I 
was awaked by a great shock, and a confused noise of 
the men on deck. I ran up, thinking some ship had 
run foul of us», for by my own reckoning, and that of 
every other person in the ship, we were at least 35 leagues 
distant from land ; but, before I could reach the quarter- 
deck, the ship gave a great stroke upon the ground, and 
tiie sea broke over her. fet after this I could perceive 
K 



J 10 LOSS OF THE LITCHFIELD. 

the land rocky, rugged, and uneven, about two cable's 
length from us. The ship lying with her broadside to 
windward, the masts soon went overboard, carrying 
some men with them. It is impossible for any but a 
sufferer to feel our distress at this time ; the masts, 
yards, and sails hanging along side in a confused heap ; 
the ship beating violently upon the rocks ; the waves 
curling up to an incredible height, then dashing down 
with such force as if they would immediately have split 
the ship to pieces, which we, indeed, every moment 
expected. Having a little recovered from our confusion, 
we saw it necessary to get every thing we could over to 
the larboard side, to prevent the ship from heeling off, 
and exposing the deck to the sea. Some of the people 
were very earnest to get the boats out contrary to ad- 
vice ; and, after much intreaty, notwithstanding a most 
terrible sea, one of the boats was launched, and eight of 
the best men jumped into her, but she had scarcely got 
to the ship's stern when she was whirled to the bottom, 
and every soul in her perished. The rest of the boats 
were soon washed to pieces on the deck. We then 
made a raft with the davit, capstan bars, and some 
boards, and waited with resignation for- providence to 
assist us. The ship soon filled with water, so that we 
had no time to get any provision up ; the quarter-deck 
and poop were now the only places we could stand upon 
with security, the waves being mostly spent by the time 
they reached us, owing to their breaking over the fore 
part of the ship. 

At four in the afternoon, perceiving the sea to be much 
abated, one of our people attempted to swim, and got 
safe on shore. There were numbers of Moors upon the 
rocks ready to take hold of any one, and beckoned 
much for us to come ashore, which, at first, we took 
for kindness, but they soon undepeived us, for they had 
not the humanity to assist any that was entirely naked, 
but would fly to those who had any thing about them, 
and strip them before they were quite out of the water, 
wrangling among themselves about the plunder ; in the 
mem time the poor wretches were left to crawl up the 
rocks if they were able, if not, they perished unregard- 
ed. The second lieutenant and mvself, with about 



LOSS OF THE LITCHFIELD, 11 J 

sixty-five others, got ashore before dark, but were left 
exposed to the weather on the cold sand. To preserve 
ourselves from perishing of cold, we were obliged to go 
down to the shore, and to bring up pieces of the wreck 
to make a fire. While thus employed, if we happened 
to pick up a shirt or handkerchief, and did not give it to 
the Moors at the first demand, the next thing was a dag- 
ger presented to our breasts. * 

They allowed us a piece of an old sail, which they 
did not think worth carrying oft" : with this we made two 
tents, and crowded ourselves into them, sitting between 
one another's legs to preserve warmth, and make room. 
In this uneasy situation, continually bewailing our misery, 
and that of our poor shipmates on the wreck, we passed 
a most tedious night, without so much as a drop of water 
to refresh ourselves, excepting what we caught through 
our sail-cloth covering. 

November 30th, at six in the morning, went down 
with a number of our men upon the rocks, to assist our 
shipmates in coming ashore, and found the ship had been 
greatly shattered in the night. It being now low water, 
.many attempted to swim ashore ; some arrived, but 
others perished. The people on board got the raft into 
the water, and about fifteen men placed themselves upon 
it. They had no sooner put Off from the wreck, than it 
overturned ; most of them recovered again, but scarcely 
were they on, before it was a second time overturned. 
Only three or four got hold of it again, and all the rest 
perished. In the mean time, a good swimmer brought 
with much difficulty a rope, which I had the good for- 
tune to catch hold of, just when he was quite spent, and 
had thoughts of quiting it. Some people coming to my 
assistance, we pulled a large rope ashore with that, and 
made it fast round a rock. We found this gave great 
spirits to the poor souls upon the wreck ; for, it being 
hauled taught from the upper part of the stern, made an 
easy decent to any who had art enough to walk or slide 
upon a rope, with a smaller rope fixed above to hold by. 
This was the means of saving a number of lives, though 
many were washed off by the impetuous surf, and per- 
ished. The flood coming on, raised the surf, and pre- 
vented any more from coming at that time, so that the 



112 LOSS OP THE LITCHFIELD. 

ropes could be of no further use. We then retired from 
the rocks ; and hunger prevailing, we set about broiling 
some of the drowned turkeys, &lc. which, with some 
flour mixed into a paste, and baked upon the coals, con- 
stituted our first meal upon this barbarous coast. We 
found a well of fresh water about half a mile off, which 
•very much refreshed us. But we had scarcely finished 
this coarse repast, when the Moors, who were now 
grown numerous, drove us all down to the rocks to bring 
up empty iron bound casks, pieces of the wreck which 
had the most iron about them, and other articles. 

About three o'clock iu the afternoon we made another 
meal on the drowned poultry, and finding that this was 
the best provision we were likely to have, some were 
ordered to save all they could find, others to raise a 
larger tent, and the rest sent down to the rocks to look 
for people coming ashore. The surf greatly increasing 
with the flood, and breaking upon the fore part of the 
ship, she was divided into three parts ; the fore part 
turned keel up, the middle part soon dashed into a thou- 
sand pieces ; the fore part of the poop likewise fell at this 
time, and about thirty men with it, eight of whom got 
ashore with our help, but so bruised, that we despaired 
of their recovery. Nothing but the after-part of the 
poop now remained above water, and a very small part 
of the other decks, on which our captain, and about 130 
more remained, expecting every wave to be their last. 
Every shock threw some off; few or none of whom 
came on shore alive. During this distress, the Moors 
laughed uncommonly, and seemed much diverted, 
when a wave, larger than usual, threatened the 
destruction of the poor wretches on the wreck. Be- 
tween four and five o'clock the sea was much decreased 
wieh the ebb : the rope being still secure, the people 
began to venture upon it ; some tumbled off and perish- 
ed, but others reached the shore in safety. 

About five, we beckoned as much a possible for the 
captain to come upon the rope, as this seemed to be as 
good an opportunity as any we had seen ; and many 
arrived in safety with our assistance. Some told us that 
the captain was determined to stay till all the men had 
quitted the Wreck; however, we still continued to beck- 



LOSS OP THE LITCHFIELD. 113 

on for him, and before it was dark, saw him come upon 
the rope. He was closely followed by a good able sea- 
man, who did all he could to keep up his spirits and 
assist him in warping. As he could not swim, and had 
been so many hours without refreshment, with the surf 
hurling him violently along, he was unable to resist the 
force of the waves, had lost his hold of the great rope, 
and must inevitably have perished, had not a wave 
thrown him within the reach of our ropes, which he 
had barely sufficient sense to catch hold of. We pulled 
him up, and after resting a short time on the rcdts, he 
came to himself, and walked up to the tent, desiring us 
to continue to assist the rest of the people in coming on 
shore. The villains, the Moors, would have stripped 
him, though h e had nothing on Dut a plain waistcoat and 
breeches, if we had not plucked up a little spirit and 
opposed them ; upon which they thought proper to desist. 
The people continued to come ashore, though many 
perished in the attempt. The Moors, at length, grow*- 
ing tired with waiting for so little plunder, would not 
suffer us to remain on the rocks, but drove us all away. 
I then, with the captain's approbation, went, and by 
signs made humble supplication to the bashaw, who was* 
in the tent dividing the valuable plunder. He under- 
stood us at last, and gave us permission to go down, at 
the same time sending some Moors with us We carried 
fire-brands down to let the poor souls on the wreck see 
that we were still there in readiness to assist them. 
About nine at night finding that no more men would ven- 
ture upon the rope, as the surf was again greatly increas- 
ed, we retired to the tent, leaving by the account of the 
last, man that arrived, between thirty and forty souls up^ 
on the wreck. We now thought of stowing every body 
in the tent, and began by fixing the captain in the mid- 
dle. Then made every man lie down on his side, 
as we could not afford them each a breadth ; but, after 
all, many took easier lodgings in empty casks. 

The next morning the wesfther was moderate and fair. 
Yve found the wreck all in pieces on the rocks, and the 
shore covered with lumber. The people upon the 
wreck all perished about one in the morning. In the 
afternoon we called a muster, and found the number of 
K2 



114 LOSS OF THE LITCHFIELD: 

the survivors to be 220 ; so that 130 perished on this 
melancholy occasion. 

On the 2d of December, the weather still continued 
moderate. We subsisted entirely on the drowned stock, 
and a little pork to relish it. and the Hour made into 
cakes ; all of which we issued regularly and sparingly, 
being ignorant whether the Moors would furnish us with 
any thing, they being still very troublesome, and even 
wanting to rob us of the canvas which covered our tent. 
At two in the afternoon a black servant arrived, sent by 
Mr. Batler, a Dane, factor to the American Company 
at Saffy, a town at the distance of about thirty miles, to 
inquire into our condition and to offer us assistance. 
The man having brought pens, ink and paper, the cap- 
tain sent back a letter b}^ him. Finding there was 
one who offered us help, it greatly refreshed our afflicted 
Iiearts. 

In the afternoon of the following day, we received a 
letter from Mr. Eutler, with some bread, and a few oth- 
er necessaries. On the 4th, the people were employed 
in picking up pieces of sails, and whatever else the 
Moors would permit them. We divided the crew into 
messes, and served the necessaries we received the pre- 
ceding day. They had bread, and the flesh of the 
drowned stock. In the afternoon we received another 
letter from Mr. Butler, and one at the same time from 
Mr. Andrews, an Irish gentleman, a merchant at Saffy. 
The Moors were not so troublesome now as before, 
most of them going off with what they had got. 

On the 5th the drowned stock was entirely consumed, 
and at low water the people were employed in collecting 
muscles. At ten in the morning, Mr. Andrews arrived, 
bringing a French surgeon with medicines and plaisters, 
Bf which, some of the men who had been dreadfully 
bruised, stood in great need. The following day, we 
served cut one of the blankets of the country to every 
two men, and pampooses, a kind of slippers, to those 
who were in most want of them. These supplies were 
likewise brought us by Mr. Andrews. The people were 
now obliged to live upon muscles and bread, the Moor^, 
who promised us a supply of cattle, having deceived us, 
and never returned. 



LOSS OF THE LITCHFIELD. 115 

The people on the 7th were still employed in collect- 
ing muscles and limpets. The Moors began to be a little 
civil to us, for fear the emperor should punish them for 
their cruel treatment to us. In the afternoon, a messen- 
ger arrived from the emperor at Sallee, with general orders 
to the people to supply us with provisions. They ac- 
cordingly brought us some lean bullocks and sheep which 
Mr. Andrews purchased for us ; but at this time we had 
no pots to make broth in, and the cattle were scarcely 
fit for any thing else. 

In the morning of the 10th, we made preparations for 
marching to Morocco, the emperor having sent orders 
for that purpose, and camels to carry the lame and the 
necessaries. At nine, set off with about thirty camels, 
having go + all our liquor with us, divided into hogsheads, 
for the convenience of carriage on the camels. At noon, 
joined the crews of one of the transports and a bomb^- 
tender, that had been wrecked about three leagues to 
the northward of us. We were then all mounted upon 
camels, excepting the captain, who was furnished with 
a horse. We never stopped till seven in the evening, 
when they procured us two tents only, which would not 
contain one third of the men, so that most of them lay 
exposed to the dew, which was very heavy, and ex- 
tremely cold. We found our whole numher to be 
338, including officers, men, boys, and three women 
and a child which one of the women brought ashore hi 
her teeth. 

On the 11th continued our journey, attended by a 
number of Moors on horseback. At six in the even- 
ing we came to our resting-place for that night, and 
were furnished with tents sufficient to cover all our 
men. 

At five in the morning of the 1 2th, we set out as be- 
fore, and, at two in the afternoon, saw the emperor's 
cavalcade at a distance. At three, a relation of the em- 
peror's, named Muli Adrix, came to us, and told the 
captain it was the emperor's orders, he should that in- 
stant write a letter to our governor at Gibraltar, to send 
to his Britannic majesty to inquire whether he would 
settle a peace with him or not. Captain Barton imme- 
diately sat down upon the grass axid wrote a letter, 



116 LOSS OF THE LITCHFIELD. 

which, being given to Muli Adrix, he went and joined 
the emperor again. At six in the evening came to our 
resting-place for the night, and were well furnished with 
tents, but very little provisions. 

We were, the following day, desired to continue on 
the same spot, till the men were refreshed, and this re 
pose they greatly needed, and we received a better sup- 
ply of provisions. That morning, Lieutenant Harrison 
commanding the soldiers belonging to Lord Forbes' re- 
giment, died suddenly in the tent. In the evening, while 
employed with his interment, the inhuman Moors dis- 
turbed us by throwing stones and mocking us. The 
next day we found that they had opened the grave and 
stripped the body. 

611 the 16th, we continued our journey, came to our 
resting place at four in the afternoon, pitched the tents, 
and served out the provisions. Here our people were 
ill-treated by some of the country Moors. As they 
were taking water from a brook, the Moors would al- 
ways spit into the vessel before they would suffer them 
to take it away. Upon this some of us went down to 
inquire into the affair, but were immediately saluted 
with a shower of stones. We ran in upon them, beat 
some of them pretty soundly, put them to flight, and 
brought away one who thought to defend himself with 
a long knife. This fellow was severely punished by 
the officer who had the charge of conducting us. 

The two succeeding days continued our journey, and, 
at three in the afternoon of the 18th, arrived at the city 
of Morocco, without having seen a single habitation 
during the whole journey. Here we were insulted by 
the rabble and, at five, were carried before the empe- 
ror, surrounded by five or six ziundred of his guards. 
He was on horseback before the gate of his palace, that 
being the place where he distributes justice to his peo- 
ple. He told Captain Barton, by an interpreter, that 
he was neither at j eace nor war with England, and he 
would detain us till an ambassador arrived from that 
country to conclude a permanent treaty. The captain 
then desired that Ave might not be treated as slaves. He 
answered hastily, that we should be taken care of. We 
were then immediately hurried out of his presence, con- 



LOSS OP THE LITCHFIELD. 117 

reyed to i wo old ruinous houses, shut up amidst dirt and in- 
numerable vermin of every description. Mr Butler be- 
ing at Morocco on business, came and supplied us with 
victuals and drink, and procured liberty for the captain 
to go home with him to his lodgings. He likewise sent 
some blankets for the officers, and we made shift to 
pass the night with tolerable comfort, being very much 
fatigued. 

At nine in the morning or the 21st, the emperor sent 
orders for the captain and every officer to appear before 
him. We immediately repaired to his palace ; we re- 
mained waiting in an outer yard two hours : in the mean 
time he diverted himself with seeing a clumsy Dutch 
boat rowed about in a pond by four of our petty officers. 
About noon we were called before him, and placed in a 
line about thirty yards from him. He was sitting in a chair 
by the side of the pond, accompanied only by two of 
his chief alcaides. Having viewed us some time, he 
ordered the captain to come forward," and after asking 
him a good many questions concerning our navy, and 
destination of the squadron to which we had belonged, 
we were also called forward by two and three at a time as 
we stood according to our rank. He then asked most of us 
some very insignificant questions, and took some to be 
Portuguese because they had black hair, and others to 
be Swedes because their hair was light. He judged none 
®f us to be English excepting the captain, the second 
lieutenant, the ensign of the soldiers, and myself. But 
assuring him we were ail English, he cried Bonno, and 
gave a nod for our departure, to which we returned a 
very low bow, and were glad to return to our old ruined 
houses again. Our total number amounted to thirty. 

On the 25th, being Christmas-day, prayers were read 
to the people as usual in the church of England. The 
captain this day received a present of tea and loaves of 
sugar from one of the queens, whose grand-father had 
been an English renegado. 

In the afternoon of the 26th, we received the disa- 
greeable intelligence, that the Emperor would oblige all 
the English to work, like all the other Christian slaves, 
excepting the officers who were before him on the 21st. 



118 LOSS OF THE LITCHFIELD. 

The next day this account was confirmed ; for, at seven 
in the morning, an alcaide came and ordered all our 
people to work, excepting the sick. Upon our applica- 
tion, eight were allowed to stay at home every day to 
cook for the rest, and this office was performed hy turns 
throughout the whole company. At four in the after- 
noon the people returned, some having been employed 
in carrying wood, some in turning up the ground with 
hoes, and others in picking weeds in the Emperors gar- 
den. Their victuals was prepared for them against their 
return. < 

On the 23th, all the people went to work as soon as 
they could see, and returned at four in the afternoon. 
Two of the soldiers received one hundred bastinadoes 
each, for behaving in a disrespectful manner while the 
Emperor was looking at their work. 

On the 30th, Captain Barton recived a kiud message 
from the Emperor, with permission to ride out or take a 
walk in his garden with his oincers. 

From this time the men continued in the same state 
of slavery till the arrival in April, of Captain Milbank, 
sent as an ambassador to the Emperor. He concluded 
a treaty for the ransom of the crew of the Litchfield, 
together with the other English subjects in the Emperor's 
power, and the sum stipulated to be paid for their release, 
was 170,000 dollars. Our people accordingly set out 
for Sallee, attended by a bashaw and two soldiers on 
horseback. On the fourth day of their marGh, they had 
a skirmish with some of the country Moors. The dis- 
pute began in consequence of some of our men in the 
rear stopping at a village to buy some milk, for which, 
after they had drank it, the Moors demanded an ex- 
orbitant price. This our men refused to give, on which 
the Moors had recourse to blows, which our people re- 
turned ; and others coming to their assistance, they 
maintained a smart battle, till the enemy became too 
numerous. In the mean time some rode off to call the 
guard, who instantly came up with their drawn scyme- 
tars, and dealt round them pretty briskly. D'iring this 
interval we were not idle, and had the pleasure to see the 
blood trickling down a good many of their faces. The 



LOSS OF THE LITCHFIELD. 119 

guards seized the chief man of the village, and carried 
him before the bashaw, who was our conductor, and who 
having heard the cause, dismissed him without farther 
punishment, in consideration of his having been well 
drubbed by us. 

On the 22d of April, we arrived at Sallee, and pitched 
our tents in an old castle, from whence we soon after- 
wards embarked on board the Gibraltar, which landed 
us at Gibraltar on the 27th of June. From that place 
the Captain and crew were put on board the Marlborough 
store ship, prepared expressly for their reception, aad 
arrived in England in the month of August, 1760, 



420 



SHIPWRECK OP THE 

PORTUGUESE VESSEL THE St. JAMES, 

Off the Coast of Africa, in 1586. 

JL HE Portuguese still maintained towards the 
end of the sixteenth century, that reputation which they 
had acquired in the East- Indies, by their conquests and 
their courage. Their prosperity was, however, occa- 
sionally interrupted by misfortunes, which were some- 
times attributed to the obstinacy and ignorance of the 
Captains commanding the vessels of that nation. Of 
the fatal effects arising from those causes, the following 
narrative affords a striking instance. 

In the month of May, 1586, intelligence was received 
at Goa of the loss of the Admiral's ship, the St. James. 
The account of this disaster stated, that after doubling 
the Cape of Good Hope, the Captain conceiving he had 
neither rocks nor other dangers to dread, proceeded un- 
der full sail, without observing his charts, or at least not 
with the attention he ought. Having a favorable wind, 
he made much way in a short time, but was driven out 
of his course towards the rocks called Bassas de India, 
distant about fifty leagues from the island of Madagascar, 
and seventy from the continent. 

Perceiving they were so near these rocks, and in im- 
minent danger of striking upon them, several of the 
passengers, who had frequently traversed those seas, 
were much alarmed. They represented to the Captain, 
that being in the midst of the rocks, it was extremely 
dangerous to suffer the ship to run under full sail, parti- 
cularly during the night, and in a season when tempests 
were very frequent. The Captain regardless of their 



LOSS OF THE ST. JAMES. 121 

prudent remonstrances, exerted his authority, ordered 
the pilots to follow his commands, adding, that the king's 
commission entitled him to obediance, and that his opin- 
ion ought to be taken in preference. However, between 
eleven and twelve o'clock the same night the vessel was 
driven towards the rocks, and struck without a possibil- 
ity of being got off. A confused cry of distress resound- 
ed, in every direction, from a multitude composed of 
above five hundred men and thirty women, who having 
no other prospect before their eyes but inevitable des- 
truction, bewailed their fate with the bitterest lamenta- 
tions. Every effort to save the ship proved ineffectual. 
The admiral, Fernando Mendoza, the captain, the first 
pilot, and ten or twelve other persons, instantly threw 
themselves into the boat saying, they would seek upon 
the rocks a proper place for collecting the wreck of the 
ship, with which they might afterwards construct a ves- 
sel large enough to convey the whole of the crew to 
the continent. With this view they actually landed on 
the rock, but being unable to find a spot proper for the 
execution of their design, they did not think proper to 
return to the ship, but resolved to steer towards 
the African coast. Some provisions which had been 
thrown in haste into the boat were distributed among 
them ; they then directed their course towards the 
continent of Africa, where they arrived in safety, 
• after a voyage of seventeen days, and enduring 
all the horrors of famine and tempestuous weather. 

Those who remained on board finding that the boat 
did not return, began to despair of saving their lives. 
To add to their distress the vessel parted between the 
two decks, and the pinnace was much damaged by the 
repeated shocks she sustained from the fury of the 
waves. The workmen, though very expert, despaired 
of being able to repair her, when an Italian, named 
Cypriano Grimaldi, leaped into her, accompanied by 
ninety of the crew, and assisted by most of those who 
had followed him instantly fell to work to put her into a 
condition to keep the sea. 

Those who could not get on board the pinnace beheld 
her bearing away from the wreck with tears and lamen- 
L 



122 L*OSS OF THE ST. JAMES. 

tations. Several who could swim threw themselves into 
the sea, in the hope of overtaking her ; and some were 
on the point of getting on board, when their more fortu- 
nate comrades fearing they should be sunk with the 
weight of all those who endeavored to obtain admit- 
tance pushed them back into the sea, and with their 
sabres and hatchets cut, without mercy, the hands of 
such as would not quit their hold. It is impossible to 
describe the anguish of those who remained on the float- 
ing fragments of the wreck, and witnessed this barba- 
rous scene. Seeing themselves cut off from every 
resource, their cries and lamentations would have melt- 
ed the hardest heart. The situation of those in the 
pinnace was not much better; their great number, the 
want of provisions, their distance from the land, and the 
bad condition of the crazy bark that bore them, 
contributed to fill them with gloomy presenti- 
ments. Some of the most resolute, however, to pre- 
vent the anarchy and confusion which would have aggra- 
vated their misery, proposed to their companions to 
submit to the authority of a captain. To this the}' all 
agreed, and immediately chose a nobleman of Portu- 
guese extraction, but born in India, tG command them, 
investing him with absolute power. He instantly em- 
ployed his authority, in causing the weakest, whom he 
merely pointed out with- his finger, to be thrown over- 
board. In the number of these was a carpenter, who 
had assisted in repairing the pinnace ; the only favor he 
requested was a little wine, after which he suffered him- 
self to be thrown into the sea witout uttering a word. 
Another, who was proscribed in the same manner, was 
saved by an uncommon exertion of fraternal affection. 
Be was already seized and on the point of being sacri- 
ficed to imperious necessity, when his younger brother 
demanded a moment's delay. He observed that his 
brother was skilful in his profession, that his father and 
mother were very old, and his sisters not yet settled in 
life ; that he could not be of that service to them which 
his brother might, and, as circumstances required the 
sacrifice of one of the two, he begged to die in his stead. 
His request was complied with, and he was accordingly 



LOSS OF THE ST. JAMES. 128 

thrown into the sea. But this courageous youth follow- 
ed the bark upwards of six hours, making incessant 
efforts to get on board, sometimes on one side, and 
sometimes on the other, while those who had thrown 
him over endeavored to keep him off with their swords. 
But that which appeared likely to accelerate his end, 
proved his preservation. The young man snatched at a 
sword, seized it by the blade, and neither the pain, nor 
the exertions made by him who held it, could make 
him quit his grasp. The others, admiring his resolu- 
tion, and moved with the proof of fraternal affection 
which he had displayed, unanimously agreed to permit 
him to enter the pinnace. At length, after having 
endured hunger and thirst, and encountered the dan- 
gers of several tempests, they landed on the coast of 
Africa, on the twentieth day after their shipwreck, and 
there met with their companions who had escaped in 
the first boat. 

The rest of the crew and passengers left on the wreck 
likewise attempted to reach the land. Collecting some 
loose rafters and planks, they formed a kind of raft, but 
were overwhelmed by the first sea, aud all perished, 
excepting two who gained the shore. Those who had 
reached the coast of Africa had not arrived at the end 
of their sufferings ; they had scarcely disembarked 
when they fell into the hands of the Caffrees, a savage 
and inhuman people, who stripped and left them in the 
most deplorable state. However, mustering up their 
courage and the little strength they had left, they arriv- 
ed at the place where the agent of the Portuguese, at 
Sofala and Mozambique, resided. By him they were 
received with the utmost humanity, and after reposing a 
few days, after their fatigues, they reached Mozambi- 
que, and repaired from thence to India. Only sixty 
survived out of all those who had embarked in the St, 
James ; all the rest perished either at sea, of fa-tigue, 
or hunger. Thus the imprudence of an individual occa- 
sioned the loss of a fine vessel, and the lives of above 
four hundred and fifty persons. 

Upon the captains return to Europe, the widows and 
orphans of the unfortunate sufferers raised such loud 



124 LOSS OF THE ST. JAMES. 

complaints against him that he was apprehended and 
put in prison ; but he was soon afterwards released. 
The former catastrophe was not a sufficient lesson for this 
self sufficient and obstinate man. He undertook the 
command of another vessel in 1588, and had nearly 
lost her in the same manner, and in the same place. 
Fortunately, at sunrise he discovered the rocks, towards 
which he was running with the same imprudence as in 
his former voyage. But on his return from India to 
Portugal he was lost, together with the vessel he wa9 
on board of ; thus meeting with the just punishment 
of hk culpable obstinacy and misconduct. 



125 



THE LOSS OF AN 

ENGLISH SLOOP, 

On the Coast off the Island of Cape Breton, in 1780. 

JL HE man of true courage, even in the most 
desperate situations, invariably finds resources within 
himself. Of this the journal of Captain Prenties, of the 
84th regiment of foot affords the reader a striking exam- 
ple. 

Being charged, says that officer, with the dispatches 
delivered to me by General Haldimand, commander in 
chief in Canada, for General Clinton, I embarked on the 
17th of November, 1780, in a small sloop bound from 
Quebec to New- York. We set sail in company with a 
brig destined for the same place, and carrying a duplicate 
of the dispatches. Having descended the St. Lawrence 
to the harbor called St. Patrick's Hole, we were detained 
in that port by a contrary wind, which continued six 
days. The winter began to set in, and ice, of consider- 
able thickness, was soon formed on the banks of the riv- 
er by the intenseness of the frost. Would to heaven it 
had continued a few days longer ! By absolutely pre- 
venting us from proceeding it would have saved us those 
misfortunes, the narrative of which begins with that of 
our navigation. 

Before we reached the mouth of the river it was dis- 
covered that the sloop had sprung a small leak. We had 
scarcely entered the gulph, when the ship began to make 
considerably more water, and though two pumps- w&e 
kept constantly going, we still had two feet water in the 
hold. On the other hand, the severity of the frost had 
increased, and the ice collected about, the ship so as to 
render us apprehensive of being entirely surrounded, 
L2 



126 

We had on board only 19 people, six of whom were pas- 
sengers, and the others bad seamen. As for the captain, 
to whom it was natural to look up for assistance in this 
predicament, instead of attending to the preservation of 
the ship, he passed his time in getting drunk in his cabin, 
without bestowing a thought upon our safety. 

The wind continuing to blow with the same violence, 
and the water having risen in the hold to the height of 
four feet, cold and fatigue produced a general despon- 
dency among the crew. The seamen unanimously re- 
solved to desist from their work. They abandoned the 
pumps, and shewed the utmost indifference to their fate, 
declaring they would rather go to the bottom with the 
ship, than exhaust themselves by useless labor in such a 
desperate situation. It must be acknowledged, that for 
several days they had undergone excessive fatigue, with- 
out any interval of relaxation. The inactivity of the 
captain had the effect of disheartening them still more. 
However, by encouragement and promises, and by the 
distribution of wine, which I ordered very seasonably to 
refresh them, I at length overcame their reluctance. 
During the interruption of their labor the water had risen 
another foot in the hold ; but their activity was so in- 
creased by the warmth of the Iiqnor which I gave them 
every half hour, and they stuck so closely to their work, 
that the water was soon reduced to less than three feet. 

It was now the 2d of December. The wind appeared 
every day to become more violent instead of abating. 
The cracks in the vessel continued to increase, while the 
ice attached to her sides augmented her weight and check- 
ed her progress. It was necessary to keep constantly 
king this crust of ice which threatened to envelope 
hip. The brig by which we were accompanied, so 
am being able to lend us any assistance, was in a sit- 
uation still more deplorable, having struck upon the 
rocks near the Island of Coudres, through the ignorance 
of the pilot. A thick snow, which then began to fall, 
i concealed her from us. The guns which we fired alter- 
overy half hour, formed the whole of our corres- 
ice. We soon had the mortification to find that 
trials were not answered. She perished, together 
wit!] her crew of sixteen persons, whtte it was impossible 



LOSS OP AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 127 

for us even to perceive their disaster, or to endeavor to 
pick them up. 

The pity with which their melancholy fate inspired us 
was soon diverted to ourselves, by the apprehension of 
new danger. The sea ran very high, the snow fell ex- 
cessively thick, the cold was insupportable, and the 
whole crew a prey to dejection. Thus situated, the 
mate exclaimed, that we could not be far from the Mag- 
dalen Islands, a confused heap of rocks, some of 
which raise their heads above the sea, while others are 
concealed beneath the surface of the water, and have 
proved fatal to a great number of vessels. In less than 
two hours we heard the waves breaking with great vio- 
lence upon those rocks, and soon afterwards discovered 
the principal island called the Dead Man, which we with 
difficulty avoided. Our apprehensions of danger were 
not the less alarming, amidst a multitude of rocks which 
there was little probability of escaping with the same good 
fortune ; as the snow, which fell faster than ever, scarcely 
suffered us to see from one end of the ship to the other. 
It would be difficult to describe the consternation and 
horror with which we were seized during the whole of 
this passage. But when we had cleared it, a ray of hope 
dawned upon the hearts of the seamen, who, upon con- 
sidering the danger they had just escaped, no longer 
doubted the interposition of Providence in their favor, 
and redoubled their efforts with new ardor. 

The sea became more turbulent during the night, and 
at f ve o'clock the next morning a prodigious wave 
broke over the ship, staved in her ports, and filled the 
cabin ; the impetuosity of the waves having driven in 
the stern-post, we endeavored to stop the apertures with 
beef cut in slices, but this feeble expedient proved inef- 
fectual, and the water continued to gain upon us more 
rapidly than ever. The affrighted crew had suspended, 
for a moment, the working of the pumps ; when they 
were about to resume their labor, they found Jheni 
frozen so hard that it was impossible to work them after- 
wards. 

From that moment we lost all hope of saving the ship, 
and all our wishes were confined to her keeping above 
water, at least till we reached St. John's, or some oilier 



128 LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOG?. 

island in the gulpb, where we might be able to land with 
the aid of our boat. 

Being left at the mercy of the wind, we durst not per- 
form any manoeuvre for fear of giving some dangerous 
shock to the vessel. The weight of water, which was 
increasing every minute, retarded her progress, and the 
more rapid waves, whose course she checked, returned 
with fury and broke over the deck. The cabin in which 
we had again taken refuge, afforded a feeble protection 
against the hovyling tempest, and scarcely sheltered us 
from the icy waves. We were every moment apprehen- 
sive of seeing our rudder carried away, and our mast go 
by the board. The gulls and wild ducks which hovered 
around us, testified, it is true, that the land could not be 
far distant ; but the very approach to it was a new subject 
of terror. How were we to escape the breakers with 
which it might be surrounded, unable as we were to 
avoid, or even to perceive them through the cloud of 
snow in which we were enveloped ? Such, for a few 
hours, was our deplorable situation, when the weather 
having suddenly cleared, we at length perceived land at 
the distance of three leagues. 

The sentiment of joy, with which the first sight bf it 
inspired us, was much abated upon a more distinct view 
of the enormous rocks which appeared to rise perpendi- 
cularly along the coast in order to repel us. The vessel, 
besides, shipped such heavy seas as would have sunk 
her, had she been deeply laden. At each successive 
shock we were afraid of seeing the ship go to pieces. 
Our boat was too small to contain the whole of the crew, 
and the sea too rough to trust to such a frail support. It 
appeared as if we had made this fatal land only to -render 
it a witness of our loss. 

Meanwhile we continued to approach it. We were 
not above a mile distant, when we discovered with 
transport, around the menacing rocks, a sandy beach, 
towards which our course was directed, while the water 
decreased so fast in depth, as to prevent our approaching 
within fifty or sixty yards, when the ship struck. The 
fate of our lives was now about to be decided in a few 
minutes. 



LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 120 

At length the vessel struck upon the sand with great 
violence. At the first shock the main-mast went by the 
board and the tiller was unshipped with such force that 
the bar almost killed one of the seamen. The furious 
seas which dashed against the ship on every side, stove in 
the stern, so that having no longer any shelter in the 
cabin, we were obliged to go upon deck, and to hold 
fast by the rigging, for fear of being washed overboard. 
In a few moments the vessel righted a little, but the keel 
was broken, and the body of the ship seemed ready to 
go to pieces. Thus all our hopes were reduced to the 
boat, which I had infinite trouble to get overboard, being 
so covered within and without, with lumps of ice, of 
which it was necessary to clear her. Most of the crew 
having taken wine to endeavor to overcome the fright 
with which they were seized, I gave a glass of brandy 
to those who were sober, and asked if they were willing 
to embark with me in the boat for the purpose of getting 
on shore. The sea was so rough that it seemed impos- 
sible for our crazy bark to keep it a moment without be- 
ing overwhelmed. Only the mate, two seamen, and a 
young passenger, resolved to risk themselves in the 

In the first moment of danger I put my dispatches fey 
a handkerchief, which I tied round my waist. Regard- 
less of the rest of my property, I seized a hatchet and a 
saw, and threw myself into the boat, followed by the 
mate and my servant, who, more thoughtful than my- 
self, had saved out of my box a purse of one hundred 
and eighty guineas. The passenger not springing far 
enough fell into the sea, and our hands were so benumed 
with cold as to be almost incapable of affording him the 
smallest assistance. When the two seamen had got into 
the boat, those who had most obstinately refused to try 
the same fortune, implored us to receive them ; but being 
apprehensive that we should founder with the weight of 
such a number, I ordered the boat to put off from the 
vessel. I soon had occasion to congratulate myself for 
having stifled a sentiment of commiseration which might 
have proved fatal to them. Though the shore was not 
above fifty yards distant, we were met half way by a 
prodigious wave, which half filled the boat, and would 



130 LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 

infallibly hare upset her had she been more heavily la- 
den. A second wave threw us with violence upon the 
shore. 

The joy to find ourselves, at length, secure from those 
dangers which had so long kept us in the most cruel 
alarms, caused us to forget, for a moment, that we had 
only escaped one kind of death, probably to endure 
another more terrible and painful. While we embraced 
each other, in our first transports, and congratulated our- 
selves on our escape, we could not but be sensible of the 
distresses of our companions whom we had left on board, 
and whose lamentable cries we heard amidst the hoarse 
noise of the waves. What augmented the affliction into 
which we were plunged by this sentiment, was, our being 
unable to afford them any kind of assistance. Our boat 
thrown upon the sand by the angiy waves, plainly testifi- 
ed the impossibility of her breaking their force and re- 
turning to the vessel. 

Night was fast approaching, and we had not been long 
upon this icy shore, when we found ourselves benumbed 
with cold. We were obliged to walk over the snow, 
which sunk under our feet, to the entrance of a little 
wood about two ^Tiureu yaruS from the shore, whick 
*?r3uereU us a little from the piercing northwest wind. 
We yet wanted a fire to warm our chilled limbs, and had 
no meass of kindling one. The tinder-box which we 
had taken the precaution to put into the boat, had got 
wet by the last wave that drove us ashore. Exercise 
alone could prevent our being frozen, in keeping our 
blood in circulation. 

Being better acquainted than my companions with the 
nature of these severe climates, I recommended to them 
to keep themselves in motion, in order to prevA being 
overpowered by sleep. But the young passenger^ whose 
clothes were soaked in the sea water, and were frozen 
stiff upon his body, was unable to resist the drowsy sen- 
sation always produced by the excessive cold which he 
experienced. In vain I employed, by turns, persuasion 
and force to make him keep upon his legs. I was oblige 
ed to leave him to Ins supineness. After walking about 
half an hour, I was myself seized with such a powerful 
inclination to sleep, that I felt myself ready every mo- 



LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 131 

ment to sink to the ground in order to gratify it, till I re- 
turned to the place where the young: man lay. I 
put my hand to his face and found it quite cold, when I 
desired the mate to feel it. We both conceived him to 
foe dead. He replied, with a feeble voice, that he was 
not, but that he felt his end approaching, and intreated 
me, if I survived, to write to his father at New- York, 
and inform him of his fate. In ten minutes we saw him 
expire, without any pain, or at least without strong con- 
vulsions. I relate this incident to shew the effect of vio- 
lent cold on the human body during sleep, and to shew 
that this kind of death is not always accompanied with a 
sensation of such excessive pain as is generally sup- 
posed/ 

This dreadful lesson was incapable of inducing the 
others to resist the inclination to sleep by which they 
were attacked. Three of them lay down in spite of 
my exhortalions. Seeing that it was impossible to keep 
them on their legs, I went and cut two branches of trees, 
one of which 1 gave to the mate, and my whole em- 
ployment, during the remainder of the night, was to 
prevent my companions from sleeping, by striking them 
as soon as they closed their eyes. This exercise was 
of benefit to ourselves, at the same time that it preserv- 
ed the others from danger of almost certain death. 

Day-light, which we awaited with such impatience, 
at length appeared. I ran to the shore w? + h the mate to 
endeavor to discover some vestige of the ship, though 
we had very little hope of finding any. What was our 
surprize and our satisfaction to see, that she had held 
together, notwithstanding the violence of the wind, which 
seemed strong enough to dash her into a thousand pieces 
during t&e night ! The first thing I did was to contrive 
how to get the remainder of the crew on shore. The 
vessel since we quitted her had been driven by the waves 
much nearer the shore, and the distance which she was 
separated from it, I knew must be much less at low water. 
When it was come, I called out to the people in the ship 
to tie a rope to her side and let themselves down one af- 
ter another. They adopted this expedient. Watching 
attentively the motion of the sea, and seizing the oppor- 
tunity of dropping. at the moment when the waves retired, 



152 LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP, 

they all got on shore without danger, excepting the car- 
penter. He did not think proper to trust himself in that 
manner, or probably was unable to stir, having used his 
bottle rather too freely during the night. The general 
safety was attached to that of each individual, and I 
doubly rejoiced to see around me such a number of 
my companions in misfortune, whom I imagined to be 
swallowed up by the waves but a few hours before. 

The captain before he left the ship, fortunately pro- 
vided himself with all the materials for lighting a fire. 
The company then proceeded towards the forest : some 
fell to work to cut wood, others to collect the dry 
branches scattered on the ground, and soon a bright flame, 
rising from a large pile, produced a thousand acclama- 
tions of joy. Considering the extreme cold which we 
had so long endured, no enjoyment could equal that of 
a good fire. We crowded round it as closely as possible 
to revive our benumed limbs. But this enjoyment was 
succeeded, in general by excrutiating pain, as soon as 
the heat of the fire penetrated into those parts of the 
body which had been bitten by the frost. The mate and 
myself were the only exceptions, on account of the ex- 
ercise we had taken during the night. AU the others had 
been more or less attacked, both in the ship and on 
chore. The convulsive movements produced in our 
unfortunate companions, by the violence of the torments 
they endured^ would be too horrible for description. 

When we came to make a review of our company I 
observed that Captain Green, a passenger, was missing. 
I was informed that he had fallen asleep in the ship, and 
had frozen to death. Our auxiety was renewed on 
account of the carpenter, who was left behind. The 
sea continuing to roll with unabated fury, so thftt it was 
impossible to send the boat to his relief, we were oblig- 
ed to wait the return of low water ; when we, at length 
persuaded him to come on shore in the same manner as 
the others ; which he did with extreme difficulty, being 
reduced to a state of the utmost weakness, and frozen 
in almost every part of his body. 

Night arrived, and we spent it rather more comforta- 
ble than the prececding. Yet, notwithstanding we were 
careful to keep up a large fire, we suffered considerably 



LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 133 

from the sharpness of the wind, against which we had 
no shelter. The trees were scarcely sufficient to pro- 
tect us from the snow, which fell in immense flakes, as 
if to extinguish our fire. While it soaked through our 
clothes on the side exposed to the fire, on our backs it 
formed a heap which we were obliged to shake off be- 
fore it froze into ice. The craving sensation of hunger, 
a new hardship, that wo had hitherto been unacquainted 
with, was now added to that of cold, which we had so 
much difficulty to endure. 

Two days elapsed, every moment of which added to 
the painful recollection of our past misfortunes, the 
terror of a still more distressing futurity. At length the 
wind and the sea, which had combined to prevent us 
from approaching the vessel, redoubled their united 
efforts to destroy her. We were apprised of her fate by 
the noise of her breaking up. We ran towards the 
shore, and saw part of the cargo already floating, which 
the impetuosity of the waves washed through the opens 
of her sides. Fortunately the tide carried part of the 
wreck upon the beach. Providing ourselves with long 
poles, and the oars of our boat, we proceeded along the 
sand, drawing on shore whatever was most useful within 
our reach It was thus we saved a few casks of salt 
beef, and a considerable quantity of onions, which the 
captain had taken on board to sell. Our attention was 
likewise directed to the planks that were detached from 
the vessel, and which might prove serviceable to us in 
constructing a hut. We collected a great number, 
which we fragged into the wood to be iminediately em- 
ployed for the above mentioned purpose. This was no 
easy undertaking, as few of us were able to go to work 
upon it. Our success, this day, however, inspired us 
with courage, and the food we had procured supporting 
our strength, the work had advanced considerably by 
the close of day. The light of our fire enabled us to 
continue it after dark, and by ten o'clock at night w<5 
had a hut twenty feet long, ten broad, and sufficiently 
solid, thanks to the trees which supported it at certain 
distances, to withstand the force of the wind, but not 
ch^'i enough to shelter us entirely from the cold. 
M 



134 LOSS OF AN E.NCLISH SLOOP. 

The Two succeeding days were employed either in 
compleating our edifice, collecting during high water 
what the tide brought from the ship, or in taking an 
-account of our provisions, in order to establish the pro- 
portion in which they ought to be distributed. We had not 
been able to save any biscuit, which was thoroughly soak- 
ed with sea water. It was agreed, that each person, well 
or ill, should be confined to a quarter of a pound of beef 
and four onions a day, as Jong as they lasted. This scan- 
ty pittance, scarcely sufficient to keep us alive, was all that 
we could allow ourselves, uncertain what time we 
might be obliged to spend on this desart coast. 

The Uth of December, the sixth day after our ship- 
wreck, the wind abated, so as to allow us to get the boat 
afloat to go and seek what was lett in the wreck. Great 
part of the day was lost in cutting away, with the hatch- 
et, the thick ice which covered the deck and stopped up 
the hatchways. The next day we succeeded in getting 
out a small barrel, containing one hundred and twenty 
pounds of salt beef, two chests of onions, one of pota- 
toes, three bottles of balsam of Canada, one of oil, 
which became exceedingly serviceable for the wounds 
of the seamen ; another hatchet, a large iron pot, two 
stew-pans, and about a dozen pounds of candles. This 
precious cargo enable us the following day to add four 
onions to our daily allowance. 

We returned again on board on the 14th, to look for 
the sails, part of which served to cover our hut, and to 
keep out the snow. The same day, the wounds of 
thos • who had suiYered most from the frost, and had 
neglected to rub them with snow, began to mortify. 
The skin came off their legs, their hands, and the parts 
of their limbs affected by the frost, with excessive pain. 
The carpenter, who was the last that came on shore, 
lost the greatest part of his feet, and in the night of the 1 4th 
became delirious, in which state he continued till the 
Ziext day, when death relieved him from his miserable 
existence. Three days afterwards our second mate died 
in the same manner, having been delirious several hours 
before he expired; and a seaman experienced the same 
fate the following day. We covered their bodies with 



LOSS OP AN ENGLISH SLOOP. Io£ 

snow and the branches of trees, having neither pickaxe 
nor spade to dig them a grave ; and if we had even 
been provided with them, the earth was frozen too hard, 
and too deep, to yield to those instruments. 

AH these losses, which reduced our company to four- 
teen persons, gave us but little concern, either on their 
account or on our own. Upon considering our dreadful 
situation, death appeared rather a blessing than a misfor- 
tune ; and when a sentiment of nature revived within us 
the love of life, each individual regarded his companions 
as so many enemies armed by hunger to deprive him of 
his subsistence. In fact, if some had not paid the debt of 
nature, we should soon have been reduced to the horrible 
necessity of perishing of hunger, or of murdering and 
devouring each other. Without being brought to this 
dreadful alternative, oar situation was so miserable, that 
it seemed impossible for any new calamity to be capa- 
ble of augmenting its horrors. The continual sensation 
of excessive cold and pressing hunger, the pain of the 
frost wounds, irritated hy the fire, the complaints cf 
the. sufferers, the neglect and filth which rendered us 
objects of disgust, both to ourselves and others, all the 
images of despair collected around us, and the prospect 
of a slow and painful death, in the midst of a desolate 
region, far from the consolations of relatives and friends ; 
such is an imperfect representation of the pangs our 
minds endured every moment of the tedious days and 
eternal nights. 

The mate and I often went abroad to see if we could 
discover any vestiges of habitations, in the country. 
Our excursions were not long, nor attended with any 
success. We resolved, one day, to penetrate farther 
into the country, keeping along the banks of a frozen 
river. We observed, from time to time, traces of elks 
and other animals, which caused us sincerely to regret 
being unprovided with arms and powder to shoot 
them. A ray of hope, for a moment, illumined our 
minds. Following the direction of some trees, cut on 
the sides with a hatchet, we arrived at a place where 
some Indians must shortly before have resided, since 
their wigwarm was still standing, and the ba^fc emploj'ed 
for that purpose appeared quite fresh; an elk's skin, 



136 LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 

which we found very near, suspended from a pole, con- 
firmed our conjectures. We anxiously traversed all the 
adjacent country, but, alas ! without success. We, 
however, derived some satisfaction from reflecting that 
this place had had inhabitants or visitors, and that they 
might soon return. Struck with this idea, I cut a long 
pole, which I stuck upright on the bank of the river, 
fastening to it a piece of birch bark, after cutting it into 
the figure of a hand, with the fore-finger extending and 
turned towards our hut. I iikewise took away the elk's 
skin, in order that the savages, at their return might 
perceive that somebody had passed by the place since 
they left it, and might by the aid of the sign, discover 
the route they had taken. The approach of the night 
obliged us to return to our habitation, and we doubled 
our pace to communicate that agreeable news to our 
companions. However feeble were the hopes we could 
reasonably allow ourselves to entertain from this discov- 
ery, I perceived that my narrative afforded them consid- 
erable consolation ; so strongly does the kind instinct of 
nature impel the unhappy to seize upon whatever is 
capable of alleviating the sensation of their misery. 

Several days elapsed in hope of seeing the Indians 
appear every moment before our hut. These sweet 
ideas gradually lost ground, and soon vanished. Some 
of our sick, and among the rest the captain, had, in this 
Interval, began to recover their strength, and our pro- 
R5 were fast decreasing. I mentioned the design I 
had formed of quitting iftPhabitation, with all these who 
were capable of working the boat, to reconnoitre the 
coast. Tiiis plan received universal approbation ; but 
when we came to think of the means of executing it, a 
new difficulty presented itself. This was, how to repair 
the boat, which had bet n dashed by the sea upon the 
sand with such fury that all Iter joints had opened. We 
had plenty of tow for stopping the apertures, but unfor- 
tunately were in want of pitch to cover it. And how 
could *.ve supply this deficiency ? We could not think 
of any method, when it struck me, all at once, that we 
might employ the balsam of Canada which we had 
saved. It was easy to try ; I emptied a few bottles of 
our iron pot, and set it on a large five ; t^kiDg it 



LOoS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP, 137 

off frequently to let it cool, I soon reduced the liquor 
to a proper consistence. During this time my compan- 
ions had turned the boat and cleared her of sand and ice. 
I directed the crevices to be stopped with tow, caulked 
her with the balsam, and I had the pleasure of seeing 
that it produced the effect to admiration. 

This first success inspired us with a new ardour to 
continue our preparations. A piece of cloth, fastened 
to a pole, in such a manner as to be raised or lowered 
at pleasure, promised us a sail strong enough to relieve, 
with a gentle and favorable wind, the labor of the row- 
ers. Among the crew few had sufficiently recovered 
to support the fatigues which we foresaw would attend 
this expedition. I was chosen to conduct it, together 
with the captain, the mate, two seamen, and my ser- 
vant. The remainder of the provisions was divided, 
according to the number of persons, into fourteen equal 
shares, without reserving, on account of the excessive 
labor we were about to undertake, a larger proportion 
for ourselves than was allotted to, those who were to re- 
main quietly in the hut. 

With this wretched allowance of a quarter of a pound 
of beef a day, for six weeks, with a crazy boat, cover- 
ed with a matter on which we could not depend, which 
the least breath of wind might upset, and the smallest 
rock dash to pieces, it was, that we had to attempt an* 
enterprise, the plan of which could have been inspir- 
ed by blind despair alone. But we were at that point, 
that there was less temerity in braving every possible 
danger with the feeblest ray of hope, than in exposing 
ourselves, by cowardly inactivity, to the almost 
inevitable danger of perishing, abandoned by alt 
nature. 

The year 1781 had just commenced; It was our in- 
tention to set off the second of January, but a furious north- 
west wind detained us till the afternoon of the fourth. 
Its violence having then abated, we carried on board 
ear provisions, together with, a few pounds of candies, 
find all the little articles that might be of service to us, 
and took leave of our companions, in the cruel uncer- 
tainty whether this might not be our last farewel. We 
Had Bot proceeded- above eight miles, when the wind 
M2 



IS8 LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLCOJ>. 

turning to the southeast, checked our progress, and ob- 
liged us to make, with our oars, towards a large bay 
wjiich offered as a favorable asylum for the ni 

Our first care was to land our provisions, and to remove 
the boat far enough upon the beach to prevent her being; 
damaged by the sea. We were then .obliged to kindle a 
fire, and to cut wood to keep it up till the next morning. 
The smallest pine branches were employed iu forming 
our bed, and the largest in hastily erecting a kind of 
wigwam, to secure ourselves as well as possible from 
the severity of the weather. 

In taking our scanty repast I observed on the shore 
several pieces of wood thrown upon it by the tide, and 
which appeared to have been cut with a hatchet. I like- 
wise saw some poles formed long since by the hand of 
man, but we could not discover any marks of inhabit- 
ants. At the distance of two miles was a hill bare of 
trees, with some appearance of its having been cleared. 
I prevailed on two of my companions to accompany me 
thither before dark, that, from its summit, we might em- 
brace a more extensive horizon. As we proceeded along 
the bay we saw a Newfundland fishing boat, half burned 
and the remaining part in the sand. This object afford- 
ed us fresh hopes, and we doubled our efforts to climb 
the hill. Having arrived at the summit, how great was 
our satisfaction to perceive some buildings on the other 
side of it, at the distance of a mile at farthest. Not- 
withstanding our fatigue, the interval which separated us 
from them was soon gone over. We arrived palpitating 
with hope and joy, but those pleasing emotions were in- 
stantly dissipated. In vain we traversed all the build- 
ings ; they were deserted. They had been erected for 
the preparation of cod, and, according to all appearance, 
had been abandoned several years before. The sad ter- 
mination of this excursion tended, however, to confirm 
us in the idea that we should find some habitations by 
continuing our course round the island. 

The wind, which had again shifted to the northwest, 
detained -us the next day, fearing to encountre tha ice, 
which it drifted in great quantities. . For three days it con- 
tinued with the same fury. Having awaked in the night, 
I was astonished to hear its shrill whistling, not accompa- 



LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 130 

rued, as usual, by the hoarse noise of the waves. I call- 
ed the mate, and informed him of this phenomenon. 
Being curious to ascertain the cause we ran towards the. 
shore, the moon's rays affording us light. As far as the 
eye could reach their fatal lustre enabled us to perceive 
the surface of the water motionless beneath the chains of 
the ice, which was piled up in different places in heaps 
of prodigious height It is impossible to describe the 
sensation of despondency which overwhelmed ourminjds 
at this sight. Unable to proceed farther on our expedi- 
tion, or to-return to our former cabin, which would have 
defended us better from the redoubled severity of the 
cold ! How long were we to continue in tins dreadful 
situation. 

Two days elapsed amidst these- gloomy reflections. 
At length, on the 9th, the wind abated It shifted the 
following day to the southeast, and blew with such vio- 
lence, that all the ice by which we were blocked up in 
the bay, was broken to pieces with a great noise, and 
driven out into the open sea, so that by four o'clock in 
the afternoon there was none left, excepting along the 
shore. 

In breaking the chains which detained us, the tyrant 
of the air forged others for us by bis violence. It was 
not till after two days that the wind abated. A light, 
breeze blowing along the shore, our boat was launched 
and the sail hoisted. We were already proceeding with 
a favorable course, when at several leagues distance we 
perceived an extremely elevated point of land. The 
coast to that place appeared to form such a continued^ 
chain of steep rocks, that it was impossible to attempt 
a landing before we had doubled the distant cape. It 
would, however, have been dangerous to risk so long a, 
course. The boat had sprung a leak, and two men were 
constantly employed \u bailing out the water, so that wq 
could use but two oars ; and the enfeebled state to which 
we were reduced, by disappointment and the want of 
food, scarcely allowed ns to support that slight exertion, 
What was to become of us if the wind should turn to the 
northwest ? We must infallibly be dashed to pieces 
against the rocks, . 



140 LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 

Fortunately the danger was no longer an object wor- 
thy of our consideration, and the wind seconded our 
perseverance so well, that we arrived at the cape about 
eleven o'clock at night. The place not being convenient 
for a landing, we were obliged to coast along till two in 
the morning, when the wind becoming more violent de- 
prived us of the liberty of choosing a favorable spot ; we 
were obliged to descend upon, or rather to clin.b, with 
the jitmost difficulty, up a rocky shore, without its being 
possible for us to secure our boat from the waves, which 
threatened her with destruction. 

The place where we had landed was a bay of no great 
depth, surrounded on the land side by inaccessible 
heights, but exposed towards the sea to the northwest 
wind, from which nothing could protect us. The wind 
which rose on the 13th threw our boat upon a ledge of 
the rocks and damaged her in several places. This ac- 
cident was but a trifling prelude to new sufferings. Sur- 
rounded by insurmountable rocks, which prevented us 
from seeking shelter in the woods ; wiihout any other 
covering than our sail, stiff with ice; buried for several 
days beneath a deluge of snow, which was heaped 
around us to the height of three feet ; we had nothing to 
keep up our fire but the branches and fragments of trunks 
©f trees, thrown by accident upon the shore. This de- 
plorable situation lasted till the $lst, when the weather 
grew milder, but we were not able to take advantage of 
it. How were we to repair our boat which had opened 
in several places ? After reflecting on the various me- 
thods that presented themselves to our minds, and re- 
jecting them as impracticable, air our thoughts were di* 
rected to seek our preservation in another quarter. 

Though it was impossible to scale the wall of rocks, 
which surrounded us on every side, and we were under 
the necessity of renouncing the use of our boat> it came 
into our minds that we might proceed along the shore, 
hy walking upon the ice, which had acquired sufficient 
strength to bear our weight. The mate and I resolved 
fo make the experiment. We set off immediately, and 
proceeding a few miles arrived at the mouth of a river, 
bordered by a sandy beach, where we might have pre- 
served our boat and lived much Jess uncomfortably, had 



LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 14? 

oar good. fortune at first conducted us thither. This dig* 
co very, while it occasioned regret did not tend to in- 
crease our hopes. It was, indeed, easy to penetrate in- 
to the woods, but could we wander at random in a sav- 
age country, m quest of an inhabited district ? How 
were we to direct our course through the black gloom "of 
the forest ? and above all, how were we to get along 
through the snow, with which the earth was covered to 
the height of six feetj and which might be melted by the 
first thaw ? 

After consulting together on the subject of our return, 
it was agreed that we had no other resource than to carry 
on our backs the remainder of our provisions and useful 
effects, and to proceed along the coast, where it was 
most natural to expect to find any families of fishermen 
or savages. The weather still seemed inclined to frost, 
and the wind having swept into the sea the greatest part 
of the snow which covered the ice upon, the coast, we 
flattered ourselves that we should walk ten miles a day 
even in the state of languor and debility into which we 
had fallen. 

This resolution being unanimously adopted we had 
soon completed the necessary preparations. We intend- 
ed to set off on the morning of the 24tb, but in the 
night which preceded it the wind suddenly shifted to the 
southeast, accompanied with heavy rain ; so that in a 
few hours, this crust of snow, which the day before ap- 
peared so soiid, was entirely dissolved, and the ice de- 
tached from the shore. We had now no way of escap- 
ing from this disastrous shore on which we were confin- 
ed. During these painful reflections our eyes were 
directed towards the boat, which we had frequently 
been tempted to break up, in order to supply our fire, as 
we could not expect to render her serviceable again. 
We still had tow sufficient to stop the crevices, but the 
balsam of Canada had been totally exhausted by our 
daily repairs, and we were unable to contrive any sub- 
stitute for it. 

The frost, however, returned the next day. Its se- 
verity caused me, during the night, to conceive an idea, 
which I hastened to put in execution as soon as daylight 
appeared. This was to pour water upon the tow 'With 



X'4? &OSS OP AN ENGLISH SLOOr. 

which the crevices were filled, and to let it freeze like a 
coating, to a certain thickness. My companions laughed 
at my scheme, and could not without reluctance, be pre- 
vailed upon to assist me. But this simple method suc- 
ceeded beyond my hopes ; all the apertures were so weH 
closed, that they were at length convinced that no water 
could penetrate through them, a* long as the frost con- 
tinued to be equally severe. 

We made a successful trial of it or, the 27th. Though 
the boat had become heavy and difficult to be managed, 
by the quantity of ice with which it was covered, yet, in 
the course of the day she proceeded twelve miles from 
the place of our departure. This new service rendered 
her more valuable in our eyes, and we took care to re- 
move her on our oars to a place more favorable to her 
security. A thick forest, situated near the spot, afforded 
us two advantages, of which we had been deprived for 
so many nights ; a slight shelter against the piercing wind, 
and an abundance of wood to keep up a great fire, which 
warmed us while we slept. This twofold enjoyment was 
to us the height of pleasure. Our stock of tinder being 
almost consumed, I was obliged to renew it by burning a 
piece of my shirt, the same that I had worn ever since 
the loss of my effects. 

The following day a deluge of rain unfortunately melt- 
ed all the ice from our boat, and we had the mortifica- 
tion to lose the advantage of a fine day, which might 
probably have forwarded us several miles on our way... 
We resolved to wait the return of the frost, and what 
augmented our impatience and regret, was, that our 
provisions were now reduced to two pounds and an half 
of beef to r eateh man. 

The frost not returning till the afternoon of the 29fh, 
the delay unavoidably occasioned by our preparations 
prevented uS from proceeding above seven miles before 
night. Tire succeeding day a very heavy gale, which 
surprized us at the beginning of our route, obliged us to 
land before we had gone more than two leagues. The 
thaw kept us onshore till the day after the next, the 1st 
of February", when an intense frost afforded us an oppor- 
tunity of repairing our boat. But the pieces of floating 
ice were so large, that they constantly employed one of 






LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 143 

us to break them with a pole ; and it was not without the 
most fatiguing exertions that we proceeded five miles 
before the elose of day. 

Our navigation was more fortunate on the 3d. The 
wind blew in a direction as favorable as we could wish. 
Though the boat made some water, which employed 
part of our hands in bailing out, we, at first, ran four 
miles an hour with the assistance of our oars, arid soon 
afterwards five with our only sail. About two o'clock 
in the afternoon, we were full in view of an elevated 
cape, which we calculated to be only three leagues off. 
But its prodigious height deceived us with regard to its 
distance ; for it was almost dark before we reached it. 
After doubling it, our course took a different direction 
from what it had done, so that we were obliged to low- 
er our sail and to take to our oars. The wind then be- 
gan to blow from the shore. Our efforts to make head 
against it were very feeble, and had it not been for a cur- 
rent from the northeast, which assisted us to make some 
opposition, we should have run the risk of being carried 
irrecoverably into the open sea. 

The coast being lined with rocks, was here too dan- 
gerous to attempt to land ; we were obliged to row along 
the rocks, amidst a thousand dangers, in the dark, till 
five o'clock in the morning. Being then incapable, 
from our exhausted state, of any longer exertion, our 
eyes were shut to the dangers of landing, and heaven 
crowned our attempt with success, without any other 
accident than having our .boat thrown, half full of water, 
upon the shore. The beginning of the wood was at no 
great distance, yet we had great difficulty to crawl 
to it, and make a fire to thaw our limbs and dry our 
clothes. 

Such was the drowsiness into which fatigue and watch- 
ing had plunged us, that it was impossible to refrain 
from sleep when our fire began to light. We were ob- 
liged to rouse each other alternately, in order to keep it 
up, fearing lest it should go out while we were ail to- 
gether asleep,, and we should be frozen to death in this 
lethargic state. 

When I awoke I had occasion to convince myself, by 
&e observation which I made on the shore, of the 



144 LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 

truth of what I had suspected by the way, namely, that 
the elevated point of land which we had just doub- 
led, was Cape North, in the island of Cape Breton, 
which, Cape Roi, on the island of Newfoundland, marks 
the entrance of the gulf of St. Laurence. 

The pleasing certainty that we were on an inhabited 
island would have flattered us with the hope of at last 
meeting with assistance, by continuing our voyage, if 
we had had any thing to subsist upon during the 
time that it might last. Our provisions were nearly ex- 
hausted, and this prospect filled us with despair. Noth- 
ing but ideas of a speedy death, or the most horrible 
means of defering it, presented themselves to our minds. 
When we cast our eyes upon one another, each seemed 
ready to point out the victim whom it was necessary to 
sacrifice to the hunger of his executioners. Some of 
us had already agreed to commit the selection of the 
object to the blind decision of the lot. Fortunately the 
execution of this dreadful design was deferred till the 
last extremity. 

While my companions were employed in clearing the 
boat cf the sand with which the tide had filled her, and 
in stopping the crevices, by pouring water upon the tow, 
and leaving it to freeze, I walked along the shore with 
the mate, in quest of oysters, of which we perceived a 
jgreat quantity of shells scattered up and down. Unfor- 
tunately lione of them were full. We should have con- 
sidered it the height of good forture to have met with 
some carcases of wild beasts half devoured by birds of 
prey ; but all tuese were now buried under the snow ; 
there was nothing tiiat could afford us even the vilest 
food. It was not sufficient that fate should have thrown 
us upon a desert coast, but, to crown our miery, it had 
chosen the most dreadful season, when not only the 
earth refused its productions for our subsistence, but 
likewise when the animals inhabiting the two elements, 
which nourish mankind had fled to their retreats, to pre- 
serve themselves from the intense cold, which desolates 
tt;ese inhospitable climates. 

I sUouhl be afraid to excite too painful sensations in 
those minds wiiich our situation, till the present moment, 
has ii^ired with tender compassion, if I were to paint 



LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 145 

in all their horror, the miseries we had to suffer during 
the following days. Reduced for our only nourishment 
to dry fruits of sweet-brier, dug up from beneath the 
snow, and a few tallow candles, which we had reserv- 
ed for a last resource ; oppressed with fatigue at the least 
exertion ; checked in our navigation by the ice, the rain, 
or the winds ; sometimes animated with a faint hope to 
i)e plunged soon afterwards in the abyss of despair \ 
overwhelmed with the painful sensations of all these dis- 
tresses, combined to crush us with their insupportable 
weight every moment, both of the day and of the night ; 
such was our state till the 17th, when completely ex- 
hausted, we landed for the last time, resolved to perish 
on the spot, if heaven should not send us some unex- 
pected relief. To place our boat in safety on the beach 
would have been an undertaking too far beyond our 
power. She was abandoned to the fury of the waves, 
after we had sorrowfully taken out our implements and 
sail, which served to cover us. Our first efforts were 
employed in clearing the snow from the spot we had 
£xed upon, to raise it all round in a sloping direction, 
for the purpose of fixing in it branches of trees, intend- 
ed to form a shelter ; lastly, in cutting, and piling as 
much wood as possible to keep up our fire, fearing lest 
we should soon be unable to nse our instruments. 

A few handfuls of hips, boiled in snow water, were, 
during the first days, the sole support of our .miserable 
lives. These began to fail us, and we thought ourselves 
fortunate in being able to supply their place with the 
marine plants which grew along the shore. After boil- 
ing them several hours, during which they lost little of 
their hardness, I put into the liquor one of the only two 
candles we had left. This disgusting broth, and the 
tough plants, at first appeased our hunger, but in a few 
moments we were seized with a terrible reaching, with- 
out having sufficient force to be able to clear our stom- 
achs. This crisis lasted about four hours, after which we 
were somewhat relieved, but fell into a state of absolute „ 
debility. 

We were, however, obliged the next day to have 
recourse to the same nourishment, which operated as 
before, only with rather less violence ; for ilas nurr>os€ 
N 



146 LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 

we had used our last candle. We were compelled, for 
three days, to be contented with the hard tough plants, 
which made us reach every mouthful we took. At the 
same time our legs began to swell, and our whole bod- 
ies became so bloated, that notwithstanding the little 
Sesh we had left, our fingers, with the smallest pressure 
upon our skin, sunk to the depth of an inch, and the 
impression remained an hour afterwards. Our eyes ap- 
peared as if buried in deep cavities. Benumbed by the 
internal dissolution of our blood, and by the intense 
cold we endured, we had scarcely strength to crawl, by 
turns, and revive our almost extinguished fire, or to 
collect a few branches scattered upon the snow. 

It was then that the remembrance of my father, 
which had attended me amidst the greatest dangers, 
combined with the idea of my death to fill my heart 
with unusual emotion. I represented to myself that ten- 
der parent, at first uneasy on my account, anxiously ex- 
pecting to hear from me ; afterwards overwhelmed with 
grief at seeing the time elapse without receiving any in- 
telligence ; and at last condemned to bewail the loss of 
his son, during all the days of his old age. I wept my- 
self at the thought of dying so far from his embrace, 
without receiving his last benediction. These affecting 
ideas, interrupted by the groans uttered around me, 
were succeeded by barbarous projects, with which the 
natural instinct of life inspired me to support. The 
wretched companions of my misfortune, whose exer 
lions had hitherto assisted me, now appeared only to be 
a prey to satisfy my hunger ; and I read the same senti- 
ments in their greedy looks. 

I know not whither these ferocious dispositions would 
have led us, when suddenly the accents of a human 
voice were heard in the forest. At the same instant we 
discovered two Indians, armed with muskets, who 
did not appear to have yet perceived us. This sudden 
appearance reviving our courage, gave us strength to 
rise and advance towards them with all the despatch we 
were able. 

As soon as they saw us they stopped, as if their feet 
had been nailed to the ground. They looked steadfastly 
at us, motionless with surprize and horror. Besides 



LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. Ml 

the astonishment that must naturally have been excited 
in them at the unexpected meeting with six strangers in 
a desert corner of the island, our appearance alone was 
sufficient to shock the most intrepid. Our clothes 
hanging in rags, our eyes concealed by the bloated prom- 
inence of our livid cheeks, the monstrous bulk to which 
all our limbs were swelled, our long and shaggy beards r 
our hair flowing in disorder down our shoulders, must, 
altogether, have given us a frightful appearance. How- 
ever, as we advanced, a thousand agreeable sensations 
were displayed in our countenances : some shed tears, 
and others laughed for joy. Though these peaceable 
signs were calculated, in some degree, to move the 
fears of the Indians, they did not yet manifest the 
least inclination to approach us, and certainly the 
disgust which our whole figure must have produced, 
sufficiently justified their coldness. I the^fore resolv- 
ed to advance towards him who was nearest to me, 
holding out one hand to him in a supplicating atti- 
tude. He seized it and gave it a hearty shake, which is 
the mode of salutation usual among these savages. 

They then began to manifest some marks of com- 
passion. I made a sign to them to come towards OuT 
f:re ; they accompanied' Ss i£-£»£cee r and sat down near 
us. One of them, who spoke bad French, begged us, 
in that language, to inform them whence we came, and 
what accident had conducted us to that spot. I hasten- 
ed to give him as brief an account as possible of the 
misfortunes and sufferings we had experienced. As he 
seemed to be deeply affected by my narrative, I asked 
him if he could furnish us with any provisions. He re- 
plied in the affirmative; but seeing that our fire was al- 
most out, he rose abruptly and seized our hatchet, at 
which he looked for a moment smiling, as I imagined, 
at the bad condition in which it was. He threw it down 
with a look of disdain, and took that which was by his 
side. In a moment he had cut a great quantity of 
branches, wliich he threw upon our fire ; he then took 
up his musket, and without saying a word, went away 
with his companion. 

Such a sudden retreat might have given uneasiness to 
persons unacquainted with the humor of the Indians ; 



148 loss of a:j English slog?. 

but I knew that these people seldom speak but when 
they see an absolute necessity for it. I did not, there- 
fore, doubt but that they were gone to fetch us provis- 
ions, and assured my alarmed comrades that we should 
not be long before we saw them again. Notwithstand- 
ing the distress in which we were for food, hunger was 
not, at least with me, the most pressing want. The 
good fire which the savages had made, crowned, at that 
moment, all my desires, having passed so many days of 
suffering, from intense cold, near the feeble flame of 
our miserable fire. 

Three hours had elapsed since the departure of U\e 
Indians, and my afflicted companions began to lose all 
hope of seeing them again, when we perceived them 
turning a projecting point of land, and rowing towards 
us in a canoe of bark. They soon came on 
shore, bringing a large piece of smoaked venison, and 
a bladder filled with fish oil. They boiled the meat in 
our iron pot with snow water, and when it was dressed 
they took care to distribute it amongst us in very small 
quantities, with a little oil, to prevent the dangerous con- 
sequences which might have resulted from our voracity 
in the debilitated state to which our stomachs were 
reduced. 

This light repast being over, they made me embark 
with two of my companions in their canoe, which was 
too small to take us all at once. We were received 
ypon landing by three Indians and a dozen women 
or children, who were w r aiting for us on the shore. 
Whiie those in the canoe returned to fetch the rest of 
cur company, the others led us towards their huts or 
wigwams, three in number, constructed for the same 
number of families, at the entrance of the forest. We 
were treated by these good people with the kindest hos- 
pitality ; they made us swallow a kind of broth, but 
would no permit us, notwithstanding our intreaties, 
to eat meat, or to take any other too substantial nour- 
ishment y 

I felt the sincerest joy when the canoe returned with 
our three companions. Upon finding ourselves together, 
among these savages, after only such a short separation, 
we frit the sensations that are experienced by friends- 



LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 149 

from infancy, who, after having long sigfeed remote from 
each other, at length find one another again in the bo- 
som of their native land. The hut appealed to us the 
abode of bliss. The transports to which we gave way, 
interested in our favor a very old woman, who testified 
great curiosity to hear our adventures. I gave a more 
circumstantial detail than before to the Indian who un- 
derstood French, and he rendered it into his language 
for the others. In the course of my narrative I had 
occasion to observe, that the women were deeply affect- 
ed by it, and grounded on this impression the hope of 
favorable treatment during our stay. 

After having satisfied the most pressing wants, our 
thoughts were turned towards the unfortunate com- 
rades, whom we had left behind at the place of our 
shipwreck. The distress to which we had been so near 
falling victims made me fear that their fate had been still 
more wretched. However, if but one of them surviv- 
ed I was determined to omit no exertion to save him. 
I endeavored to describe to'the savages, as well as I 
was able, the quarter of the island, on which we had 
been cast, and inquired whether it was not possible to 
send thither some relief. 

To the description I gave of the course of the neigh- 
boring river* and of a small island to be seen at a little 
distance from its mouth, they replied that they were 
perfectly acquainted with the spot, that it was about one 
hundred miles to it, by very difficult ways through the 
woods ; that they must cross rivers and mountains to 
arrive at it, and if they undertook the journey they 
must expect some compensation for their fatigues. It 
would have been unreasonable to require them to sus- 
pend their hunting, their only means of supporting their 
wives and children, to undertake the toilsome excursion 
purely from a motive of benevolence towards stran- 
gers. As to their account of the distance of the place 
where we were wrecked, it did not appear exaggerated, 
since I computed, by my own calculations, that our 
course along the shore could not have been less than one 
hundred and fifty miles. 

I then told them what it had not before come into my 
mind to mention, that I had money, and that if it was 
N2 



350 LOBS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 

of any value in their eyes, I would employ part to pay 
them for their trouble. They seemed perfectly satisfied 
with the proposal, and asked to see my purse ; I took it 
from my servant and shewed them the guineas which it 
contained. At the sight of the gold I observed in their 
countenances sensations which I should never have ex- 
pected to meet with among a savage people ; the. women 
in particular eyed it with extreme avidity ; and when I 
had presented each of them with a guinea, they set up a 
loud laugh, that being the way in which the Indians ex- 
press extraordinary emotions of joy. 

However exorbitant their pretentions might be, I de- 
termined to spare nothing to save my countrymen, if 
any of them were still alive. We, therefore, concluded 
an agreement, by which they engaged to depart the fol- 
lowing day, and I was to give them twenty-five guineas 
before they set off, and the same sum upon their return. 
They immediately fell to work to make shoes fit for 
walking upon the snow, both for themselves and our 
seamen, whom they were to bring back. Early the 
next morning they departed, after receiving the stipulat- 
ed siim. 

From the moment the savages saw gold in my pos- 
session, my situation lost all the charms which it owed 
to their hospitality. They became as rapacious as they 
had before been generous, requiring ten times the value 
of the smallest articles with which they furnished my 
companions and me. I was fearful too lest this exces- 
sive passion for money, which they had contracted from 
their intercourse with the Europeans, should impel them 
to rob us, and leave us in the same deplorable situation 
from which we had been rescued by their assistance. 
The only motive on which I grounded the hope of more 
humane treatment was the religion they had embraced, 
having been converted to Christianity by the French 
Jesuits before this island was ceded to us together with 
Canada. They shewed the strongest attachment to 
their new faith, and frequently stunned us in the eve- 
ning by their doleful psalmody. My servant was a par- 
ticular favorite with them all, because, being a Irish 
Catholic, he joined their prayers, though he did not 
?tand a single word of them. I much doubt 



LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 151 

whether they themselves could understand them, for 
their singing, or rather shouting, was a confused jargon, 
composed of bad French and their savage idiom, with 
a few Latin phrases which they had learned from their 
missionaries. 

We were many days before we recovered our strength, 
or were capable of digesting any substantial food. The 
only nourishment the Indians could procure us was elk's 
flesh and seal-oil, upon which they live entirely during the 
hunting season. 

Though the remembrance of so many past miseries 
caused us to bless the change in our situation, and re- 
conciled us to our residence among the savages, yet I 
felt very anxious to leave them, on account of the des- 
patches with which I had been intrusted, and which 
might be of the greatest importance to the public ser- 
vice ; and the more, as I could not be ignorant that the 
duplicate was lost in the wreck of the brig. But I was 
still so weak, that, for some time, I found it impossible 
to take the least exercise, and experienced, as well as 
the companions of my misfortunes, how difficult it 
is to recover from such a rude attack upon the con- 
stitution. 

After an absence of about a fortnight, the Indians 
returned with three of our people, being all that death 
had spared out of the eight persons whom I had left 
behind at the hut. They informed us, that after con- 
suming all their provisions, they had subsisted several 
days on the skin of the elk which we had disdained to 
share with them ; that the latter resource being exhaust- 
ed, three had died of hunger, and that the others had 
been reduced to the horrible necessity of feeding on the 
dead bodies till the arrival of the Indians ; that one of 
the five who remained had given way with so much 
imprudence to his voracity, that he died in a few hours, 
amidst, inexpressible torments ; and that another had 
accidentally killed himself in handling the arms of one 
of the savages. Thus our company, consisting at first 
of nineteen persons, was reduced to nine ; and I Won- 
der, whenever I think of it, that a single individual es- 
caped, after having had to contend, for the space cS 



1 52 LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP, 

three months, with all the complicated hardships of cold, 
hunger, and fatigue. 

Our impaired strength kept us in the dismal place a 
fortnight longer, during which I was obliged, as before, 
to pay the most exorbitant price for our food and our 
smallest wants. At the end of that time, finding my 
health somewhat re-established, and my purse almost 
empty, I conceived myself obliged to sacrifice my per- 
sona], comfort to, my duty to the service, and resolved 
to proceed with my depatches to General Clinton, with 
all possible expedition, though this, of all the seasons of 
the year, was the least proper for travelling. I there=- 
fore hired two Indians to take me to Halifax for forty 
guineas, which I engaged to pay them upon my arrival 
there. I farther took upon myself to furnish them by 
the way with every kind of provisions, and suitable re- 
freshments, in the inhabited parts through which we 
might pass. Some of the other Indians were to conduct 
the rest of our company to a settlement on a Spanish 
river, where the,y were to remain till the spring to wait 
for an opportunity of proceeding to Halifax by sea. I fur- 
nished the captain with all the money necessary for his 
subsistence, and that of his men, for which he gave me 
a bill on his owner at New-York. The latter was not 
ashamed to refuse to pay it, under the pretext, that as the 
ship was lost, neither the captain nor the crew could 
have any claim upon him. 

I set off on the 2d of April, accompanied by two In- 
dians, my servant, and Mr. Winslow, a young passen- 
ger in our ship, and one of the three survivers at the 
feut. We each carried with us four pair of Indian shoes, 
a pair of snow shoes, and provisions for a fortnight. 
We arrived that evening at a place, called by the Eng- 
lish Broad Oar, where a snow-storm detained us the 
whole of the following day. We set off again on the 
4th, and after a march of about fifteen miles arrived on 
the banks of a beautiful salt-water lake, called the lake 
of St. Peter, one end of which communicates with the 
sea. Here we met with two Indian families that were 
going a hunting. I purchased of them, for four guineas, 
a bark canoe, which my guides informed me would very 
often be necessary for crossing certain parts of the lake 



LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 553 

that arc neYer frozen. As in other parts we should 
have to travel upon the ice, I was likewise obliged to 
buy two sledges to place the boat upon, and to draw it 
after us. 

Having enjoyed two days repose, and procuring a 
fresh svpply of provisions, we resumed our march on 
the 7th, proceeding several miles along the bank of 
the lake ; but the ice being bad, we were obliged to quit 
that route and take another through the woods. The 
snow was there six feet deep ; a thaw, accompanied 
with rain, which came on the next day, rendered it so 
soft that it was no longer possible to walk upon its sur* 
face. We were, therefore, obliged to stop. A large 
fire, a commodious wigwam, and abundance of provis- 
ions, assisted us to endure this disagreeable delay, with- 
out entirely dissipating our inquietudes. The winter 
was too far advanced for us to hope to travel much long- 
er upon the snow, without the accidental return of the 
frost ; and should it not return again, the only thing we 
could do, was to wait till the lake should be entirely 
cleared of the ice, and thus we might be detained a 
fortnight or three weeks longer. In this case our situation 
was likely to become as unfortunate as that to which we 
had been reduced by our shipwreck, excepting that 
the weather was less severe, that we were rather better 
supplied with provisions, and had at least arms to recruit 
our stock. 

The frost fortunately rehired on the 12th, and we 
resolved to take advantage of it the next day. We 
that day proceeded six leagues, sometimes on floating 
ice, and sometimes in the canoe. On the 14th our pro- 
visions being almost consumed, I proposed to go in pur- 
suit of game, which appeared to abound in this district. 
The savages, in general, think only on the wants of the . 
day, without troubling themselves about those of the 
morrow. This foresight might, however, have proved 
very essential, since a sudden thaw might have pre- 
vented us from going out. I went into the woods with 
one of my guides, and we soon discovered the traces 
of an elk, which my Indian killed after an hours's pur- 
suit. He opened him with much dexterity, caught the 
blood in a bladder, and cut up the body into large 



154 LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 

quarters, part of which we carried on our shoulders to 
the canoe, sending the other Indian, my servant, and 
Mr. Winslow for the remainder. This expedition pro- 
cured us a sufficient stock of provisions to remove any 
apprehension of want, even in case a sudded thaw pre- 
vented us from continuing our route on the lake, or in 
the woods. 

We departed early in the morning of the 15th, and 
that day' went six leagues, which so diminished our 
strength, alreadly exhausted by long hardships, that it 
was impossible to proceed the next day. We were 
detained by fatigue till the 18th, when we resumed our 
journey in the same manner, that is, partly on the float- 
ing ice, and partly in the canoe, in those places where the 
lake was not frozen. 

I then had an opportunity to notice the beauties of 
the lake, one of the finest that I have seen in America, 
though the season was not calculated to shew it to ad- 
vantage. It is covered with an infinite number of small 
islands, dispersed over its surface, which gave it a great 
resemblance to the celebrated lake of KiMarney, and the 
other fresh-water lakes of Ireland. No settlement has 
ever been made on these islands, though the soil ap- 
pears fertile, and the residence upon them would be 
delightful in summer, were it possible to procure fresh- 
water, of which they are entirely destitute ; and 
this is doubtless the reason why they are not in- 
habited. 

If the ice of the lake had been uninterrupted, and 
more solid, we should have saved much time and trouble 
by proceeding directly from point to point, from one 
island to another, instead of being obliged to make a 
long circuit at every bay we came to. 

On the 20th we arrived at St. Peter's, a place where 
there is a settlement of a few English and French fami- 
lies. I am bound in gratitude to make mention here of 
Mr. Cavanagh, an English merchant, who received us 
with every kind of civility, and who, being informed of 
my misfortunes, had the confidence to advance me two 
hundred pounds sterling, for a bill of exchange which I 
gave him on my father, though our name was utterly 
unknown to hira. 



LOSS OF AN ENGLISH SLOOP. 155 

At St. Peter's I should have hired a fishing-boat to 
repair to Halifax, but for the apprehension of falling into 
the hands of the American privateers, with which those 
seas were then infested. The lake being in this place 
separated from the sea by a forest about a mile broad, 
we had only to drag our canoe that distance, in order to 
reach the coast and embark. After stopping the follow- 
ing days in different places of little consequence, we 
arrived on the 25th at Narrashoe, where we were receiv- 
ed with the same hospitality as at St. Peter's. We left 
it on the 26th, in our canoe, to repair to Isle Madame, 
situated about the middle of the streights of Cfanceau, 
which separate Cape Breton from Nova Scotia ; but at 
the point of that island we discovered such a prodigious 
quantity of floating ice, that it would have been the 
height of imprudence to venture our feeble bark among 
it We therefore returned to Narrashoe, where I hir- 
ed a vessel capable of resisting its violence. I ordered 
the canoe to be taken on board, and on the 27th, with 
the assistance of the most favorable wind, we crossed 
the Streights in three hours, and landed at Canceau, 
which gives name to them. At length, after a naviga- 
tion of ten days along the coast, our canoe brought us in. 
safety into the harbor of Halifax, 

The Indians having received the sum we had agreed 
upon, and the presents with which I endeavored to sat- 
isfy my gratitude towards those to whom I owed the 
preservation of my life, left us in a few days to return 
to their Island. As I was obliged to wait a considerable 
time longer for a vessel, I had, during that interval, the 
satisfaction to be joined by my companions in misfor- 
tune, whom the other Indians had undertaken to con- 
duct by Spanish Jfciver. At last, after waiting two 
months, I embarked in the ship called the Royal Oak, 
and arrived at New-York, where I delivered my dis- 
patches to General Clinton in a very tattered condition. 



156 



THE LOSS OP 

HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP CENTAUR, 

Oi Se vent y-Fo'ur Guns, September 23, 1782 ; 

And the Miraculous Preservation of the Pinnace, with the 
Captain, Master, and Ten of the Crew. 

(By Captain Inglefield.) 



A.FTER the decisive engagment in the West-In- 
tlies, on the glorious 12th of April, 1782, when the 
French fleet under Count de Grasse was defeated by 
Admiral Sir George Rodney, several of the captured 
ships, besides many others, were either lost or disabled, 
on their homeward bound passage, with a large convoy. 
Among those lost was the Centaur of Seventy four guns, 
whose commander, Captain Inglefield, with the master 
and ten of the crew, experienced a most providential 
escape from the general fate. 

The captain's narrative affords the best explanation of 
the manner and means by which this signal deliverance 
was effected. Those only who are peisonally involved 
in such a calamity can describe their sensations with 
full energy, and furnish, in such detail, those traits of 
the heart which never fail to interest. 

The Centaur (says Captain Inglefield) left Jamaica in 
rather a leaky condition, keeping two hand-pumps going, 
and when it blew fresh, sometimes a spell with a 
chain-pump was necessary. But I had no apprehension 
that the ship was not able to encounter a commQU gale 
of wind. 



LOSS OP THE CENTAUR. 157 

In the evening of the 1 6th of September, when the fatal 
gale came on, the ship was prepared for the worst weath- 
er usually met in those latitudes, the main-sail was reef- 
ed and set, the top-gallant masts struck, and the mi z en- 
yard lowered down, though at that time it did not blow 
very strong. Towards midnight it blew a gale of wind, 
and the ship made so much water that I was obliged to 
turn all hands up to spell the pumps. The leak still in- 
creasing, I had thoughts to try the ship before the se$, 
Happy I should have been, perhaps, had I in this been 
determined. The impropriety of leaving the convoy, 
except in the last extremity, and the hopes of the weath- 
er growing moderate, weighed against the opinion that it 
was right. 

About two in the morning the wind lulled, and we 
flattered ourselves the gale was breaking. Soon after 
we had much thunder and lightning from the south-east, 
with rain, when it began to blow strong in gusts of wind, 
which obliged me to haul the main-sail up, the ship be- 
ing then under bare poles, This was scarcely done, 
when a gifst of wind, exceeding in violence any thing of 
the kind I had ever seen or had any conception of, laid 
the ship upon her beam ends. The water forsook the 
bold and appeared between decks, so as to fill the men's 
hammocks to leeward : the ship lay motionless, and to 
all appearance irrecoverably overset The water in- 
creasing fast, forced through the cells of the ports, and 
scuttled in the ports from the pressure of the ship. I 
gave immediate directions to cut away the main and 
jnizen masts, hoping when the ship righted, to wear her. 
The mizen-mast went first, upon cutting one or two of 
the lanyards, without the smallest effect on the shift; 
the main-mast followed, upon cuttiug the lanyard of one 
shroud ; and I had the disappointment to see the fore- 
mast and bowsprit follow. The ship upon this immedi- 
ately righted, but with great violence ; and the motion 
was so quick, that it was difficult for the people to work 
the pumps. Three guns broke loose upon the main- 
deck, and it was some time before they were secured. 
Several men being maimed in this attempt, every move- 
able was destroyed, either from the shot thrown loose 
from the lockers, or the wreck of the deck, The offi- 
O 



1J»3 LOSS OF THE CENTAUR. 

cers, who had left their beds naked, when the ship over- 
set in the morning, had not an article of clothes to 
put on, nor could their friends supply them. 

The masts had not been over the sides ten minutes 
before I was informed the tiller had broken short in the 
rudder-head; and before the chocks could be placed, 
the rudder itself was gone. Thus we were as much 
disastered as it was possible, lying at the mercy of the 
wind and sea : yet I had one comfort, that the pumps, 
if any thing, reduced the water in the hold ; and as the 
morning came on (the 17th) the weather grew more 
moderate, the wind having shifted, in the gale, to north- 
west. 

At day-light I saw two line of battle ships to leeward; 
one had lost her fore-mast and bowsprit, the other her 
mainmast. It was the general opinion on board the 
Centaur, that the former was the Canada, the ot!*er the 
Glorieux. The Ramilies was not in sight, nor more than 
fifteen sail of merchant ships. 

About seven in the morning I saw another line of bat- 
tle ship ahead of us, which I soon distinguished to be the 
Ville de Paris, with all her masts standing. I immedi- 
ately gave orders to make the signal of distress, hoist- 
ing the ensign on the stump of ihe mizen-mast, union 
downwards, and firing one of the forcastle guns. The 
ensign blew away soon after it was hoisted, and it was 
the only one we had remaining; but I had the satisfac- 
tion to see the Ville de Paris wear and stand towards us. 
Several of the merchant ships also approached us, and 
those that could, hailed, and offered their assistance ; 
hut depending upon the King's s^ip, I only thanked 
t Ii em, desiring, if they joined Admiral Graves, to ac- 
quaint him of our condition. I had not the smallest 
doubt but the Ville de Paris was coming to us, as she 
appeared to us not to have suffered in the least by the 
.storm, and having seen her wear, we knew she was un- 
der government of her helm: at this time also, it was so 
moderate that the merchantmen set their top-sails, but 
approaching within two miles, she passed us to wind- 
ward ; this being observed by one of the merchant ships, 
she wore and came under our stern, offering to carry 
any message to her. I desired the master would ac- 



LOSS OF THE CENTAUR, 258 

quaint Captain Wilkinson that the Centaur had lost hef 
rudder, as well as her masts; that she made a great 
deal of water, and that I desired he would remain with 
her until the weather grew moderate. I saw the mer- 
chantman approach afterwards near enough to speak to 
the Ville de Paris, but I am afraid that her condition was 
much worse than it appeared to be, as she continued up- 
on that tack. In the mean time all the quarter-deck 
guns were thrown overboard, and all but six, which had 
overset, off the main-deck. The ship, lying in the 
trough of the sea, labored prodigiously. I got over 
one of the small anchors, with a boom and several gun 
carriages, veering out from the head-door by a large 
hawser, to keep the ship's bow to the sea; but 
this, with a top-gallant-sail upon the stump of themizen- 
mast, had not the desired effect. 

As the evening came on it grew hazy, and blew 
strong in squalls. We lost sight of the Ville de Paris, 
but I thought it a ccitainty that we should see her the 
next morning. The night was passed in constant labor 
at the pump. Sometimes the wind lulled, and the wa- 
ter diminished ; when it blew strong again, the sea rising, 
the water again increased. 

Towards the morning of the 18th I was informed 
there was seven feet water upon the kels ; that one 
of the winches was broken ; that the two spare ones 
would not fit, and that the hand-pumps were choked, 
These circumstances were sufficient^ alarming ; but 
upon opening the after-hold, to get some rum up for the 
people, we found our condition much more so. 

It will be necessary to mention, that the Centaurs af- 
ter-hold was inclosed by a bulk-head at the after part of 
the well ; here all the dry provisions, and the ship's rum 
were stowed upon twenty chaldrons of coal, which un- 
fortunately had been started on this part of the ship, and 
by them the pumps were continually choked. The chain - 
pumps were so much worn as to be of little use ; and 
the leathers, which, had the well been clear, would have 
Hasted twenty days, or more, were all consumed in eight. 
At this time it was observed, that the water had not a 
passage to the well, for there was so much, that it 
washed against the orlop-deck. AH the rum, twenty^!* 



166 LOSS OP THE CENTAUft. 

puncheons ; and all tlie provisions, cf which there was 
sufficient for two months, in casks, were staved, having 
floated with violence, from side to side, until there was 
not a whole cask remaining : even the staves that were 
found upon clearing the hold, were most of them broken 
in two pieces. In the fore-hold we had a prospect of 
perishing : should the ship swim, we had no water but 
what remained in the ground tier ; and over this all the 
Wet provisions, and butts filled with salt-water, were 
floating, and with so much motion, that no man could 
with safety go into the hold. There was nothing left 
for us to try, but bailing with buckets at the fore*hatch- 
way and fish room ; and twelve large canvas buckets 
were immediately employed at each. On opening the 
fish room we were so fortunate as to discover, that two 
puncheons of rum, which belonged to me, had escaped. 
They were immediately got up, and served out at 
times in drams ; and had it not been for this relief, and 
some lime juice, the people would have dropped. 

We soon found our account in bailing ; the spare 
pump had been put down the fore hatchway, and a 
pump shifted to the fish room ; but the motion of the 
ship had washed the coals so small, that they had reach- 
ed every part of the ship, and the pumps were soon 
choked. However, the water by noon had considerably 
diminished by working the buckets ; but there appeared 
no prospect of saving the ship, if the gale continued. 
The labor was to great to hold out without water ; yet 
the people worked without a murmur, and indeed with 
cheerfulness. 

At this time the weather was more moderate, and a 
couple of spars were got ready for shears to set up a 
jury foremast; but as the evenisg came on, the gale 
again increased. We had seen nothing this day but the 
ship that had lost her main mast, and she appeared to 
be as much in want of assistance as ourselves, having 
fired guns of distress ; and before night I was told her 
fore-mast was gone. 

The Centaur labored so much, that I had scarcely a 
hope she could swim till morning. However, by great 
exertion of the chain pumps and bailing, we held our 
own, but our sufferings for want of water were very 



J3S OP THE CENTAUR. 161 

great, and many m the people could not be restrained 
from drinking salt-water. 

At day light (the 19th) there was no vessel in sight ; 
and flashes from guns having been seen in the night, we 
feared the ship we had seen the preceding day had foun- 
dered. Towards ten o'clock in the forenoon the weath- 
er grew more moderate, the water diminished in the 
hold, and the people were encouraged to redouble their 
efforts to get the water low enough to break a cask of 
fresh water out of the ground tier ; and some of the 
most resolute of the seamen were employed in the 
attempt. At noon we succeededwith one cask, which, 
though little, was a seasonable relief. All the officers, 
passengers, and boys, who were not of the profession of 
seaman, had. been emploj^ed thrumming a sail, which 
was passed under the ship's bottom, and I thought it had 
some effect. The shears were raised for the fore- mast; 
the weather looked promising, the sea fell, and at night 
we were able to relieve at the pumps and bailing every 
two hours. By the morning of the 20th the fore-hold 
was cleared of the water, and we had the comfortable 
promise of a fine day. It proved, so, and I was deter- 
mined to make use of it with every possible exeitiog. 
I divided the ship's company, with the officers attending 
them, into parties, to raise the jury fore-mast ; to heave 
over the lower-deck guns ; to clear the wrecks of ffl! 
fore and after holds; to prepare the machine for steering 
the ship, and to work the pumps. By night the after- 
hold was as clear as when the ship was launched ; for, 
to our astonishment, there was> not a shovel of coals 
remaining, twenty chaldrons having been pumped out 
since the commencemlft of the gale. What 1 have cal- 
led the wreck of the hold, was the bulk heads of the 
after hold, fish room, and spirit rooms. The standards 
of the cock-pit, and immense quantity of staves and 
wood, and part of the lining of the ship, were thrown 
over-board, that if the water? should again appear in the 
hold, we might have .no impediment in bailing. All the 
guns were overboard, the fore-mast secured, and the 
machine, which was to be similar to that with which the 
Ipswich was steered, was in great forwardness ; so . 
that! was. in hopes,, the moderate weather continuing, ~. 



162 LOSS OF THE CENTAUR, 

that I should be able to steer the ship by noon the 
lowing day, and at least save the people on some of (he 
Western Islands. Had we had any other ship in compa- 
ny with us I should have thought it my duty to have 
quitted the Centaur this day. 

This night the people got some rest by relieving the 
watches ; but in the morning of the 21st we had the 
mortification to find that the weather again threatened, 
and by noon it blew a gale. The ship labored greatly, 
and the water appeared in the fore and after hold, and 
increased. The carpenter also informed me that the 
leathers were nearly consumed ; and likewise that 
the chains of the pumps, by constant exertion, and 
the diction of the coals, were considered as nearly 
useless. 

As we had now no other resource but bailing, I gave 
orders that scuttles should be cut through the decks io 
introduce more buckets in the hold ; and all the sail- 
makers were employed, night and day, in making can- 
vas buckets : and the orlop deck having fallen in on the 
larboard side, I ordered the sheet cable to be roused 
overboard. The wind at this time was at west, and 
being on the larboard tack, many scheme* had been 
practiced to wear the ship, that we might drive into a 
less boisterous latitude, as well as approach the Western 
ftlands ; but none succeeded : and having a weak car- 
penter's crew, they were hardly sufficient to attend the 
pumps ; so that we could not make any progress . 
with the steering machine. Another sail had been 
thrummed and got over, but we did not find its use ; 
indeed there was no prospect but m a change of weath- 
er. A large leak had been di^fcvered and stopt in the 
fore-hold and another in the lady's h^le, but the ship 
appeared so. weak from her laboring, thfct it was clear 
she could not last long. The after cock-pit had fallen 
in, the fore cock-pit the same, with all the store rooms 
down ; the stern post w T as so loose, that as the ship roll- 
ed, the water rushed in on either side in great streams, 
which we could not stop. 

Night came on, with the same dreary prospect as on 
the preceeding, and was passed in continual efforts of 
labor. Morning came, (the 22d), without pur seeing 



LOSS OP THE CENTAUR. 183 

any thing, or any change of weather, and the day was 
spent with the same struggles to keep the ship above 
water, pumping and bailing at the hatchways and scut- 
tles. Towards night another of the chain pumps was 
rendered quite useless, by one of the rollers being diS' 
placed at the bottom of the pump, and this was without 
remedy, there being too much water in the well to get 
to it : we also had but six leathers remaining, so that the 
fate of the ship was not far off. Still the labor went on 
without any apparent despair, every officer taking his 
share of it, and the people were always cheerful and 
obediant. 

During the night the water increased : but abouig 
seven in the morning of the 23d I was told that an 111111= 
sua! quantity of water appeared, all at once, in the foi :'e 
hold, which, upon my going forward to be convinced, 
I found but too true ; the stowage of the hold ground- 
tier was all in motion, so that in a short time there was 
not a whole cask to be seen. We were convinced the 
ship had sprung a fresh leak. Another sail had been 
thrumming all night, and I was giving directions to place 
it over the bows, when I perceived the thip settling by 
the head, the lower deck bow-ports being even with 
the water. 

At this period the carpenter acquainted me the well 
was staved in, destroyed by the wreck of the hold, and 
the chain pumps displaced and totally useless. There 
was nothing left but to redouble our efforts in bailing, but 
it .became difficult to fill the buckets, from the quantity of 
staves, planks, anchor stock, and yard-arm pieces, 
which were now washed from the wings, and floating 
from side to side with the motion of the ship. The peo- 
ple, till this period, had labored, as if determined to con- 
quer their difficulties, without a murmur or without a 
tear; but now seeing 'their 'efforts useless, many of 
them burst into tears and wept like children. 

I gave orders for the anchors, of which we had two 
remaining, to be thrown overboard, one of which, (the 
spare anchor,) had been most surprisingly hove in upon 
the forecastle and mid-ships, when the ship had been 
upon her beaniends, and gone through the deck. 



164 LOSS OF THE CENTAUR. 

Every time that I visited the hatch-way I observed 
the water increased, and at noon washed even with the 
orlop deck: the carpenter assured me the ship could not 
swim long, and proposed making rafts to float the ship's 
company, whom it was not in my power to encourage 
any longer with a prospect of their safety. Some ap- 
peared perfectly resigned, went to their hammocks and 
desired their messmates to lash them in ; others were 
lashing themselves to gratings and small rafts ; but the 
most predominant idea was, that of putting on their best 
and cleanest clothes. 

The weather, about noon, had been something mode- 
rate, and as rafts had been mentioned by the carpenter, 
I thought it right to make the attempt, though I knew 
our booms could not float half the ships company in fine 
weather ; but we were in a situation to catch at a straw. 
I therefore called the ship's company together, told them 
my intention, recommending to them to remain regular 
and obedient to their officers. Preparations were imme- 
diately made to this purpose ; the booms were cleared; 
the boats, ol which we had three, viz. cutter, pinnace, 
and five-oared yawl, were got over the side ; a bag of 
bread was ordered to be put in each, and any liquors 
that could be got at, for the purpose of supplying the 
rafts. I had intended myself to go in the five oared 
yawl, and the coxswain was desired to get any thing 
from my steward that might be useful. Two men, cap- 
tains of the tops, of the forecastle, or quarter-masters, 
were placed in each of them, to prevent any person from 
forcing the boats, or getting into them until an arrange- 
ment was made. While, these preparations were mak- 
ing, the ship was gradually sinking, the orlop-decks hav- 
ing been blown up by the water in the hold, and the cables 
floated to the gun deck. The men had some time quit- 
ed their employment of bailing, and the ship was left 
to her fate. 

In the afternoon the weather again threatened, and 
blew strongly in squall's ; the sea ran high, and one of 
the boats (the yawl) was staved along-side and sunk. As 
the evening approached, the ship appeared little more 
than suspended in water. There was no certainty that 
she would swim from one Eiiauiet to another; acd 



LOSS OF THE CENTAUR, 165 

the love of life, which I believe never shewed itself later 
in the approach to death, began now to level all distinc- 
tions. It was impossible, indeed, for any man to de- 
ceive himself with a hope of being saved upon a raft in 
such a sea ; besides that, the ship in sinking, it was 
probable, would cany every thing down with her in a 
vortex, to a certain distance. 

It was near five o'clock, when, coming from my 
cabin, I observed a number of people looking very anx- 
iously over the side; and looking over myself, I saw 
that several men had forced the pinnace, and that more 
were attempting to get in. I had immediate thoughts of 
- securing this boat before she might be sunk by numbers, 
There appeared not more than a moment for considera- 
tion ; to remain and perish with the ship's company, to 
whom I could not be of use any longer, or seize the 
opportunity, which seemed the only way of escaping, 
and leave the people, with whom I had been so well 
satisfied on a variety of occasions that I thought I could 
give my life to preserve them. This, indeed, was a 
painful conflict, such as, I believe, no man can decribe, 
nor any have a just idea of who has not been in a simi- 
lar situation 

The love of life prevailed. I called to Mr. Rainy, 
the master, the only officer upon deck, desired him to 
follow me, and immediately descended into the boat 
at the after part of the chains, but not without great 
difficulty got the boat clear of the ship, twice the num- 
ber that the boat would carry pushing to get in, and many 
jumping into the water Mr. Baylis, a young gentle- 
man fifteen year? of age, leaped from the chains, after 
the boat had got off, and was taken in. The boat 
falling astern, became exposed to the sea, and we en- 
deavored to pull her bow round To keep her to the 
break of the sea, and to pass to windward of the ship ; 
but in the attempt she was nearly filled, the sea ran too 
high, and the only probability of living was keeping her 
before the wind. 

It was then that I became sensible how little, if any, 
better our condition was than that of those who remain- 
ed in the ship ; at best, it appeared to be only ^prolong- 
ation of a miserable existence. We were, all togeth- 



2 68 ' LOSS OP THE CENTAUR. 

er, twelve in number, in a leaky boat, with one of the 
gunwales staved in nearly the middle of the Western 
Ocean, without a compass, without quadrant, without 
sail, without great coat or cloak, all very thinly clothed, 
in a gale of wind, with a great sea running ! It was 
now five o'clock in the evening, and in half an hour 
we lost sight of the ship. Before it was dark a blanket 
was discovered in the boat. This was immediately bent to 
one of the stretches, and under it, as a sail, we scudded 
all night, in expectation of being swallowed up by every 
•wave, it being with great difficulty that we could some- 
times clear the boat of the water, before the return of 
the next great sea ; all of us half drowned, and sitting, 
except those who baled, at the bottom of the boat; and. 
without having really perished, I am sure no people 
ever endured more. In the morning the weather grew 
moderate, the wind having shifted to the southward, as 
we discovered by the sun. Having survived the night, 
we began to recollect ourselves, and to think of our 
future preservation. 

When we quitted the ship the wind w r as at N. W. or 
N. N. W. Fayalhad borne E. S. E. 250 or 260 leagues. 
Had the wind continued for five or six days, there was 
a probability that running before the sea we might have 
fallen in with some one of the Western Islands. The 
change of wind was death to these hopes ; for, should it 
come to blow, we knew there would be no preserving 
life, but by running before the sea, which would carry 
us again to the northward, where we must soon after- - 
wards perish. 

Upon examining what we had to subsist on, I found a 
bag of bread, a small ham, a single piece of pork, two 
quart bottles of water, and a few of French cordials. 
The wind continued to the southward for eight or nine 
tlays, and providentially never blew so strong but that 
we could keep the side of the boat to the sea : but we 
were always most miserably wet and cold. We kept a 
sort of reckoning, but the sun and stars N being some- 
what hidden from us, for twenty-four hours, we had no 
very correct idea of our navigation. We judged, that 
we had nearly an E. N. E^ course since the first 
r\Ights's run, which hud carried us to the S. E. and 



LOSS OF THE CENTAUR, 16? 

expected to see the island of Corvo. hi this, however, 
we were disappointed, and we feared that the southerly 
wind had driven us far to the northward. Our prayers 
were now for a northerly wind. Our condition began 
to be truly miserable, both from hunger and cold ; for 
on the fifth day we bad discovered that our bread was 
nearly all spoiled by salt-water, and it was necessary to 
go on an allowance. One biscuit divided into twelve 
morsels, for breakfast, and the same for dinner ; the 
neck of a bottle broken off, with the cork in, served 
for a glass, and this, filled with water, was the allow- 
ance for twenty four hours for each man. This was 
done without any sort of partiality or distinction : but 
we must have perished ere this, had we not caught six 
quarts of rain water ; and this we could not have been 
blessed with, had we not found in the boat a pair of 
sheets, which by accident had been put there. These 
were spread when it rained, and when thoroughly wet, 
wrung into the kidd, with which we baled the boat. 
With this short allowance, which was rather tantalizing 
in our comfortless condition, we began to grow very fee- 
ble, and our clothes being continually wet, our bodies 
were, in many places, chafed into sores. 

On the 15th day it fell calm, and soon after a breeze 
of wind sprung uik from the N. N. ' W. and blew to a 
gale, so that we rH£ before the sea at the rate of five or 
six miles an hour under our blanket, till we judged we 
were to the southward of Fayai, and to the westward 
60 leagues : but the wind blowing strong we could not 
attempt to steer for it. Our wishes were now for the 
wind to shift to the westward. This was the fifteenth 
day we had been in the boat, and we had only one day's 
bread, and one bottle of water remaining of a second 
supply of rain. Our sufferings were now as great as hu- 
man strength could bear, but we were, convinced that 
good spirits were a better support than great bodily 
strength ; for on this day Thomas Matthews, quarter- 
master, the stoutest man in the boat, perished from hun- 
ger and cold : on the day before he had complained of 
want of strength in his throat, as he expressed it, to 
swallow his morsel, and in the night drank salt-water, 
grew delirious, and died without a groan. - ■ As it became 



168 LOSS OF THE CENTAUR. 

next to a certainty that we should all perish in the same 
manner in a day or two, it was somewhat comfortable 
to reflect, that dying of hunger was not so dreadful as 
our imaginations had represented. Others had com- 
plained of these symptoms in their throats ; some had 
drank their own urine ; and all but myself hand drank 
salt-water. 

As yet despair and gloom had been successfully pro- 
hibited ; and, as the evenings closed in, the men had 
been encouraged by turns to sing a song, or relate a sto- 
ry, instead of supper ; but this evening I found it impos- 
sible to raise either. As the night came on it fell calm, 
and about midnight a breeze of wind sprang up, we guess- 
ed from the westward by the swell, but there not being 
a star to be seen, we were afraid of running out of our 
way, and waited impatiently for the rising sun to be our 
compass. 

As soon as the dawn appeared, we found the wind to 
be exactly as we had wished, at W. S. W. and imme- 
diately spread our sail, running before the sea at the rate 
of four miles an hour. Our last breakfast had been 
served with the bread and water remaining, when John 
Gregory, quarter-master, declared with much confidence, 
that he saw land in the S. E. We had so often seen 
fog-banks, which had the appearance of -land, that I did 
not trust myself to believe it, and cautioned the people 
(who were extravagantly elated,) that they might not 
feel the effects of disappointment : till at length one of 
them broke out into a most immoderate swearing fit of • 
joy, which I could not restrain, and declared he had 
never seen land in his life if what he now saw was not 
land. 

We immediately shaped our course for it, though on 
my part with very little faith. The wind freshened ; the 
boat went through the water at the rate of five or six 
miles an hour, and in two hour's time the land wab 
plainly seen, by every man in the boat, but at a very 
great distance, so that we did not reach it till ten at 
night. It must have been at least twenty leagues from 
us when first discovered ; and I cannot help remark- 
ing, with much thankfulness, the providential favo: 
shewn to us in this instance. 



LOSS OF THE CENTAUR. 169 

In every part of the horizon, except where the land was 
discovered, there was so thick a haze that we could not 
have seen any thing for more than three or four leagues. 
Fayal, by our reckoning, bore E. by N. which course 
we were steering, and in a few hours, had not the sky 
opened for our preservation, we should have increased 
our distance from the land, got to the eastward, and of 
course missed all the island. As we approached the 
land our belief had strengthened that it wa"s Fayal. 
The island of Pico, which might have revealed it to us, 
had the weather been perfectly clear, was at this time 
capped with clouds, and it was some time before we 
were quite satisfied, having traversed for two hours a 
great part of the island, where the steep and rocky shore 
refused us a landing. This circumstance was borne 
with much impatience, for we had flattered ourselves 
that we should meet with fresh water at the first part 
of the land we might approach ; and being disappointed, 
the thirst of some had increased anxiety almost to a 
degree of madness ; so that we were near making the 
attempt to land in some places where the boat must 
have been dashed to pieces by the surf. At length we 
discovered a fishing canoe, which conducted us into, 
the road of Fayal about midnight ; but where the regu- 
lation of the port did not permit us to land till examined 
by the health officers : however, I did not think much 
of sleeping this night in the boat, our pilot having 
brought us some refreshments of bread, wine, and wa- 
ter. In the morning we were visited by Mr. Graham, 
the English consul, whose humane attention made very 
ample amends for the formality of the Portuguese. 
Indeed I can never sufficiently express the sense I hava 
of his kindness and humanit} r , both to myself and peo- 
. pie ; for, I believe, it was the whole of Ms employ- 
ment for several days to contrive the best means of 
restoring us to health and strength. It is true, I believe 
there never were more pitiable objects. Some of the 
stoutest men belonging to the Centaur were obliged 
to be supported through the streets of Fayal. Mr. 
Rainy, the master, and myself, were, I think, in better 
health than the rest ; but I could not walk without being: 
P 



170 L0S9 OF THE CENTAUR. 

supported ; and for several days, with the best and 
most comfortable provisions of diet and lodging, we 
grew rather worse than better. 
Fayal Oct. 13, 1752. 

J. N. INGLEFIELD. 



Names of the Officers and men who were saved in 
the Pinnace. 

Captain Inglefiehl. 
Thomas Rainy, master. 
Robert Baylis," midshipman. 
James Clark, surgeon's mate. 
Timothy Sullivan, captain's coxswain. 
John Gregory, quarter-master. 



Charles M'Carty. 
Charles Flinn. 
Charles Gallohar. 
Theodore Hutchius. 
Thomas Stevenson. 



Jfames of the Officers left in the Ship and sup- 
posed to have Perished. 



LIEUTENANTS. 


John Jordan, 
John Treleven, 
George Lindsay, 
George Scott, 
George Breton, 


1st. 

2d. 
3d. 
4th. 
5th. 



John Bell, captain of marines 
Thomas Hunter, purser. 



LOSS OP THE CE&TAUft. 'ill 

Thomas Williamson, surgeon. 
Thomas Wood, boatswain. 
Charles Penlarick, gunner. 
Allen Woodriff, carpenter. 



Males and Midshipmen. 

Messrs. Dobson, Warden* Hay, Everhart, Mins&aw? 
Sampson, Lindsay, Chalmers, Thomas, Young. 



172 



SHIPWREBK OF 

THE SLOOP BETSY, 

On the Coast of Dutch Guiana, August 5, 1756. 
Fhjup Aubin, Commander. 



Un the 1st of August, 1756, says Capt. Aubin, 
I set sail for Surinam, from Carlisle Bay, in the island 
of Barbadoes. My sloop, of about eighty tons burthen, 
was built entirely of cedar, and freighted by Messrs. 
Roscoe and Nyles, merchants of Bridgetown. The 
cargo consisted of provisions of every kind, and horses. 
The Dutch colony being in want of a supply of those 
animals, passed a law that no English vessel should^be 
permitted to enter there, if horses did not constitute 
part of her cargo. The Dutch were so rigid in enforc- 
ing this condition, that if the horses chanced to die on 
their passage, the master of the vessel was obliged to 
preserve the ears and hoofs of the animals, and to swear 
upon entering the port of Surinam, that when he em- 
barked they were alive, and destined for that colony. 

The coasts of Surinam, Berbice, Demerara, Oronoko, 
and all the adjacent parts, are low lands, and inundated 
by large rivers, which discharge themselves into the sea. 
The bottom all along this coast is composed of a kind 
of mud, or clay, in which the anchors sink to the depth 
of three or four fathoms, and upon which the keel some- 
limes strikes without stopping the vessel. The sloop 
ijoing at anchor three leagues and a half from the shore 
in five fathoms water, the mouth of the Demarara river 
bearing S. S. W. and it being the rainy season, my crew 
drew up water from the sea for their use, yrhich was just 



SHIPWRECK OF THE SLOOP BETSY. 17 Z 

a3 sweet as good river water. The current occasioned 
by the trade winds, and the numerous rivers which fall 
into the sea, carried us at the rate of four miles an hour, 
towards the west and north-west. 

In the evening of the 4th of August, I was tacking 
about, between the latitude of ten and twelves degrees 
north, with a fresh breeze, which obliged me to reef my 
sails. At midnight, finding that the wind increased, in 
proportion as the moon, then on the wane, rose above 
the horizon, and that my bark, which was deeply laden, 
labored excessively, I would not retire to rest till the 
weather became more moderate. I told my mate, whose 
name was Williams, to bring me a bottle of beer, and 
both sitting down, I upon a hen-coop, and. Williams upon 
the deck, we began to tell stories to pass the time, 
according to the custom of mariners of every country. 
The vessel suddenly turned with her broadside to wind- 
ward : I called to„ one of the seamen to put tha helm 
a weather, but he replied it had been so for some time. 
I directed my mate to see if the cords were not en- 
tangled : he informed me thai it was not At this mo- 
ment the vessel swung round with her head to. the sea, 
and plunged ; her head filled in such a manner that she 
could not rise above the surf, which broke over us to 
the height of the anchor stocks, and we were presently 
up to our necks in water ; every thing in the cabin was 
washed away. Some of the crew, which consisted of 
nine men, were drowned in their hammocks, without a 
cry or groan. When the wave had passed, I took 
the hatchet that was hanging up near the fire-place, to 
cut away the shrouds to prevent the ship from upset- 
ting, but in vain. She upset, and turned over again, 
with her masts and sails in the water ; the horses rolled 
one over the other and were drowned, forming altogether 
a most melancholy spectacle. 

I had but one small boat, about twelve or thirteen, 
feet long ; she was need, with a cable coiled inside of 
her, between the pump and the side of the ship. Provr* 
identially for our preservation there was no occasion to 
lash her fast; but we at this time entertained no hope of 
seeing her again, as the large cable within her, together 
with the weight of the horses, and their stalls entangled 
P2 



i7\ SHIPWRECK OF THE SLOOP BETSY. 

one among another, prevented her from rising to the 
surface of the water. 

In this dreadful situation, holding by the shrouds, and 
stripping off my clothes, I looked round me for some 
plank or empty box to preserve my life as long as it 
should please the Almighty, when I perceived my mate 
and two seamen hanging by a rope, and imploring God 
to receive their souls. I told them that the man who 
was not resigned to die when it pleased his Creator to 
call him out of the world was not fit to live. I advised 
them to undress as I had done, and to endeavor to seize 
the first object that could assist them in preserving their 
lives. Williams followed my advice, stripped himself 
quite naked, and betook himself to swimming, looking, 
out for whatever he could find. A moment afterwards 
he cried out : — Here is the boat, keel uppermost ! I im- 
mediately swam to him, and found him holding the boat 
by the keel. We then set to work to turn her, but in 
vain ; at length, however, Williams, who was the heav- 
iest and strongest of the two, contrived to set his feet 
against the gunwale of the boat, laying hold of the keel 
with his hands, and with a violent effort nearly succeed- 
ed in overturning her. I being to windward, pushed 
and lifted her up with my shoulders on the opposite side. 
At length, with the assistance of the surf, we turned 
her over, but she was full of water. I got into her, and 
endeavored by the means of a rope belonging to the rig- 
ging, to draw her to the mast of the vessel. In the 
intervals between the waves the mast always rose to 
the height of fifteen or twenty feet above the water. 
I passed the end of the rope fastened to the boat once 
round the head of the mast, keeping hold of tlie 
end ; each time that the mast rose out of water, it lifted 
up both the boat and me ; I then let go the rope, and 
by this expedient the boat was three-fourths emptied ; 
but having nothing to enable me to disengage her from 
the mast and shrouds, they fell down upon me, driving 
the boat and me again under water. 

After repeated attempts to empty her, in which I was 
cruelly wounded and bruised, I began to haul the boat, 
filled with water, towards the vessel, by the shrouds ; 
but the bark had sunk by this time to such a depth, 



SHIPWRECK OF THE SLOOP BETSY. 175 

that only a small part of her stern was to be seen, upon 
which my mate and two other seamen were holding fast 
by a rope. I threw myself into the water, with the rope 
of the boat in the mouth, and swam towards them to 
give them the end to lay hold of, hoping, by our united 
strength ; that we should be able to haul the boat over 
the stern of the vessel ; we exerted our utmost efforts, 
and at this moment I nearly had my thigh broken by a 
shock of the boat, being between her and the ship. 
At length we succeeded in hauling her over the stern, 
but had the misfortune to break a hole in her bottom in 
this manoeuvre. As soon as my thigh was a little recov- 
ered from the blow, I jumped into her with one of the 
men, and stopped the leak with a piece of his coarse 
shirt. It was extremely fortunate for us that this man 
did not know how to swim ; it will soon be seen what 
benefit we derived from his ignorance ; had it not been 
for this we must all have perished. Being unable to 
swim, he had not stripped, and had thus preserved his 
coarse shirt, a knife that was in his pocket, and an 
enormous hat, in the Dutch fashion The boat being 
fastened to the ringing, was no sooner cleared of the 
greatest part of the water than a dog of mine came to 
me, running along the gunwale ; I took him in, thank- 
ing Providence for having thus sent provision for a time 
of necessity. A moment after the dog had entered, the 
rope broke with a jerk of the vessel, and I found my- 
self drifting away. I called my mate and the other 
man who swam to me : the former had fortunately 
found a small spare top-mast, which served us for a 
rudder. We assisted the two others to get into the boat, 
and soon lost sight of our ill-fated bark. 

It was then four o'clock in the morning, as I judged by 
the dawn of day, which began to appear, so that about 
two hours had elapsed since we were obliged to abondon 
her. What prevented her from foundering sooner was 
my having taken on board about 150 barrels of biscuit, 
as many or more casks of flour, and 300 firkins of but- 
ter, all which substances float upon the water, and are 
soaked through but slowly and by degrees. As soon as 
we were clear of the wreck, we kept the boat before 
the wind as well as we could, and when it grew light I 



176 SHIPWRECK OP THE SLOOP BETSY. 

perceived several articles that had floated from the ves- 
sel. I perceive my box of clothes and linen, which 
had been carried out of the cabin by the violence of the 
waves. I felt an emotion of joy. The box contained 
some bottles of orange and lime water, a few pounds 
of chocolate, sugar, &c. Reaching over the gunwale 
of our boat we laid hold of the box, and used every 
effort to open it on the water, for we could not think of 
getting it into the boat, being of a size and weight suffi- 
cient to sink her. In spite of all our endeavors we could 
not force open the lid ; we were obliged to leave it 
behind, with all the good things it contained, and to 
increase our distress we had by this effort almost filled 
our boat with water, and had more than once nearly 
sunk her. 

We, however, had the good fortune to pick up thir- 
teen onions ; we saw many more, but were unable to 
reach them. These thirteen onions and my dog, with- 
out a single drop of fresh water, or any liquor whatever, 
were all that we had to subsist upon. We were, accor- 
ding to my computation, above fifty leagues from land, 
having neither mast, sails, nor oars, to direct us, nor any 
kind of articles besides the knife of the sailor who could 
not swim, his shirt, a piece of which we had already 
used to stop the leak in our boat, and his wide trowsers. 
We this day cut the remainder of his shirt into strips, 
which we twisted for rigging, and then fell to work alter- 
nately to loosen the planks with which the boat was lin- 
ed, cutting, by dint of time and patience, all round the 
heads of the nails that fastened them. Of these planks 
we made a kind of mast, which we tied to the foremast 
bench ; a piece of board was substituted for a yard, to 
which we fasiened the two parts of the trowsers, which 
served for sails, and assisted us in keeping the boat 
before the, wind, steering with the top-mast as mention- 
ed before. 

As the pieces of plank which we had detached from 
the inside of the boat were too short, and were not suf- 
ficient to go quite round the edge, when the sea ran 
very high, we were obliged, in order to prevent the 
waves from entering the boat, to lie down several times 
along the gunwale on each side, with our backs to the 



SHIPWRECK OF THE SLOOP BETSY. 177 

Water, and thus with our bodies to repel the surf, while 
the other, with the Dutch hat, was incessantly employ- 
ed in bailing out the water ; besides which the boat con- 
tinued to make water at the leak, which we were unable* 
entirely to stop. 

It was in this melancholy situation, and stark naked, 
that we kept the boat before the wind as well as we 
could. The night of the first day after our shipwreck 
arrived before we had well completed our sail ; it 
grew dark, and we contrived to keep our boat running 
before the wind, at the rate of about a league an houF. 
The second day was more calm ; we each eat an onion, 
at different times, and began to feel thirst. In the night 
of the second day the wind became violent and variable, 
and sometimes blowing from the north, which caused 
me great uneasiness, being obliged to steer south, in 
order to keep the boat before the wind, whereas we 
could only hope to be saved by proceeding from east 
to west. 

The third day we began to sutler exceedingly, not 
only from hunger and thirst, but likewise from the heat 
Of the sun, which scorched us in such a manner, that 
from the neck to the feet our skin was as reel and as 
full of blisters as if we had been burned by a fire. I 
then seized my dog and plunged the knife in his throat. 
I. cannot even now refrain from weeping at the thought 
of it ; but at the moment I felt not the least compassion 
for him. We caught his blood in the hat, receiving in 
our hands and drinking what ran over : we afterwards 
. drank in turn out of the hat, and felt our-selves refresh- 
ed. The fourth day the wind was extremely vio~ 
lent, and the sea ran very high, so tyat we were 
more than once on the point of perishing; it was 
on this day in particular that we were obliged to make 
a rampart of our bodies in order to repel the waves. 
About noon a ray of hope dawned upon us, but soon 
vanished. 

We perceived a sloop, commanded by Captain 
Rputhey, which, like my vessel, belonged to the island 
oi Barbadoes, and was bound to Demerara ; we could 
see the, crew walking upon the deck, and shsuted to 
them, but were neither seen nor heard. Being obliged. 



178 SHIPWRECK OF THE SLOOP EETST. 

by the violence of the gale, to keep our boat before the 
wind, for fear of foundering, we had passed her a great 
distance before she crossed us ; she steering direct south, 
and we bearing away to the west. Captain Southey 
was one of my particular friends. This disappointment 
so discouraged my two seamen that they refused to 
endeavor any longer to save their lives. In spite of all 
I could say, one of them would do nothing, not even 
bale out the water which gained upon us ; I had recourse 
to entreaties ; fell at his knees, but he remained unmov- 
ed. My mate and I, at length, prevailed upon him, by 
threatening to kill him instantly with the top-mast, which 
we used to steer by, and to kill ourselves afterwards, to 
put a period to our misery. This menace made some 
impression on him, and he resumed his employment of 
bailing as before. 

On this day I set the others the example of eating a 
piece of the dog with some onions ; it was with diffi- 
culty that I swallowed a few mouthfuls ; but in an hour 
I felt that this morsel of food had given me vigor. My 
mate, who was of a much stronger constitution, eat 
more, which gave me much pleasure; one of the two 
men likewise tasted it, but the other, whose name 
was Comings, either would not or could not swallow a 
morsel. 

The fifth day was more calm, and the sea much 
smoother. At day-break we perceived an enormous 
shark, as large as our boat, which followed us several 
hours, as a prey that was destined for him. We also 
found in our boat a flying fish, which had dropped there 
during the night ; we divided it into four parts, which 
we chewed to moisten our mouths. It was on this day 
that, when pressed with hunger and despair, my mate, 
Williams, had the generosity to exhort us to cut off a 
piece of his thigh to refresh ourselves with the blood, 
and to support life. In the night we had several show- 
ers, with some wind. We tried to get some rain water 
by wringing the trowsers which served us for a sail, but 
when we caught it in our mouths it proved to be as salt 
as that of the sea ; the trowsers having been so often 
soaked with sea water, that they, as well as the liat, 
were quite impregnated with salt. Thus we had no 



SHIPWRECK OF THE SkOOP BETSY. 179 

other resource but to open our mouths and catch the 
drops of rain upon our tongues, in order to cool them : 
after the shower was over we again fastened the trow- 
sers to the mast. 

On the sixth day the two seamen, notwithstanding all 
my remonstrances, drank sea- water which purged them so 
excessively that they fell into a kind of delirium, and 
were of no more service to Williams and me, Both he 
and I kept a nail in our mouths, and often sprink- 
led our heads with water to cool them. I perceived 
myself the better for these ablutions, and that my head 
was more easy. We tried several times to eat of the 
dog's flesh, with a morsel of onion ; but I thought 
myself fortunate if I could get down three or four 
mouthful^. My mate always eat rather more than I 
could. 

The seventh day was fine, with a moderate breeze, 
and the sea perfectly calm. About noon the two men 
who had drank sea water grew so weak that they began 
to talk wildly, like people who are light-headed, not 
knowing any longer whether they was at sea or on shore. 
My mate and I were so weak too that we could scarcely 
stand on our legs, or steer the boat in our turns, or bale 
the water from the boat, which made a great deal at 
the leak. 

In the morning of the eighth day John Comings died, 
and three hours afterwards George Simpson likewise 
expired. The same evening, at sun-set, we had the 
inexpressible satisfaction of discovering the high lands 
on the west point of the island of Tobago. Hope gave 
us strength.. We kept the head of the boat towards 
the land all night, with a light breeze and a current, 
which was in our favor. Williams and I were that night 
in an extraordinary situation, our two comrades lying 
dead before us, with the land in sight, having very little 
wind to approach it, and being assisted only by the cur- 
rent, which drove strongly to the westard. In the 
morning we were not, according to my computation, 
more than five or six leagues from the land. That hap- 
py day was the last of our sufferings at sea. We kept 
steering the boat the whole day towards the shore, though 
we were no longer able to stand. In the evening thp 



ISO 8KIPWRECK GP THE SLOOP BETSY. 

wind lulled, and it fell calm ; but about two o'clock in 
the morning the current cast us on the beach of the isl- 
and of Tobago, at the foot of a high shore, between 
little Tobago and Man of War Bay which is the eastern- 
most part of the island. The boat soon bulged with 
the shock ; my unfortunate companion and I crawled 
to the shore, leaving the bodies of our two comrades in 
the boat, and the remainder of the dog, which was 
quite putrid. 

We clambered, as well as we could, on all fours, along 
the high coast, which rose almost perpendicularly to the 
height of three or four hundred feet. A great quantity 
of leaves had dropped down to the place where we were, 
from the numerous trees over our heads ; these we 
collected, and lay down upon them to wait for day-light ; 
When it began to dawn we sought about for water, and 
found some in the holes of the rocks, but it was brack- 
ish, and not fit to drink. We perceived on the rocks 
around us several kinds of shell-fish, some of which we 
broke open with a stone, and chewed them to moisten 
our mouths. 

Between eight and nine o'clock we were perceived by 
a young Caraib, who was sometimes walking and at 
others swimming towards the boat. As soon as he had 
reached it he called his companions with loHd shouts, 
making signs of the greatest compassion. His comrades 
instantly followed him, and *wam towards us, having 
perceived us almost at the same time. 

The oldest, who was about sixty, approached us with 
the two youngest, whom we afterwards found to be his 
son and son-in-law. At the sight of us the tears flowed 
from their eyes : I endeavored by words and signs to 
make them comprehend that we had -been nine days at 
sea, in want of every thing. They understood a few 
French words, and signified that they would fetch a boat 
to convey us to their hut. The old man took a hand- 
kerchief from his head and tied it round mine, and one of 
the young Caraibs gave Williams his straw hat ; the other 
swam round the projecting rock and brought us a calebash 
of fresh Water, some cakes of cassava, and a piece of 
broiled fioh, but we could not eat. The two others took 
the two corpses out of the boat, and laid (hem upou the 



SHIPWRECK OF THE SLOOP EET3Y. |Bl 

rack, after which a!t three of them hauled the boat out of 
the water. They then left us, with marks of the utmost 
compassion, and went to fetch their canoe. 

About noon they returned in their canoe, to the num« 
bcr of six, and brought with them, in an earthan pot, 
some soup which we thought delicious. We took a lit- 
tle, but my stomach was so weak that I immediately cast 
it up again. Williams did not vomit at all. In less than 
two hours we arrived at Man of War Uay, where the huts 
of the Caraibs were situated. They had only one ham- 
mock, in which they laid me, and the woman made us a 
very agreeable mess of herbs and broth , of quatracas and 
pidgeons. They bathed my w r ounds, which were full of 
worms, with a decoction of tobacco and other plants. 
Every morning the man lifted me out of the hammock, 
and carried me in his arms beneath a lemon tree, where 
he covered me with plantain leaves to screen me from 
the sun. There they anointed our bodies with a kind 
of oil to cure the blisters raicd by the sun. Our com- 
passionate hosts even had the generosity to give each 
of us a shirt, and a pair of trowsers, which they had 
procured from the ships that came from time to time to 
trade with them for turtles and tortoise shell. 

After they had cleansed my wounds of the vermin, 
they kept me with my legs suspended in the air, and 
anointed them morning and evening with an oil extract- 
ed from the tail of a small crab, resembling what the 
Euglish call the soldier-crab, because its shell is red. 
They take a certain quantity of these crabs, bruise the 
ends of their tails, and put them to digest in a large 
shell upon the fire. It was with this ointment that they 
healed my wounds, covering them with nothing but 
plantain leaves. 

Thanks to the nourishing food procured us by the 
Caraibs, and their humane attention, I was able, in about 
three weeks, to support myself upon crutches, like a 
person recovering from a severe illness. The natives 
flocked from all parts of the island to see us, and never 
-came empty handed ; sometimes bringing eggs, and at 
others fowls, which were given with pleasure, and accept- 
ed with gratitude. We even had visitors from the island 
of Trinidad. I cut my name with a knife upon several 

Q 



182 SHIPWRECK OP THE SLOOP BETSY. 

boards, and gave them to different Caraibs, to shew 
them to any ships which chance might conduct to the 
coast. We almost despaired of seeing any arrive, 
when a sloop from Oronoko, laden with mules and bound 
to St. Pierre, in the island of Martinique, touched at 
the sandy point on the west side of Tobago. The Indi- 
ans shewed the crew a plank upon which my name was 
carved, and acquainted them with our situation. Upon 
the arrival of this vessel at St. Pierre, those on board 
related the circumstance. Several merchants of my 
acquaintance, who traded under Dutch colours, happen- 
ed to be there ; they transmitted the information to my 
owners, Messrs. Roscoe and Nyles, who instantly des- 
patched a small vessel in quest of us. After living about 
nine weeks with this benevolent and charitable tribe of 
savages, I embarked and left them, when my regret was 
equal to the joy and surprise I had experienced at meet- 
ing with them. 

When we were ready to depart they furnished us with 
an abundant supply of bannanas, figs, yams, fowls, 
fish, and fruits ; particularly oranges and lemons. I had 
nothing to give them as an acknowledgment of their 
generous treatment but my boat, which they had repaired, 
and used for occasionly visiting their nests of turtles : 
being larger than their canoes, it was much more fit for 
that purpose. Of this I made them a present, and 
would have given them my blood. My friend, Captain 
Young, assisted me to remunerate my benefactors. He 
gave me all the rum he had with him, being about seven 
or eight bottles, which I likewise presented to them. 
He also gave them several shirts and trowsers, some 
Jmives, fish-hooks, sail-cloth for the boat, with needles 
and ropes. 

At length, after two days spent in preparations for 
our departure, we were obliged to separate. They 
came down to the beach to the number of about thirty, 
men, women, and children, and all appeared to feel the 
sincerest sorrow, especially the old man, who had acted 
like a father to me. When the vessel left the bay, the 
tears flowed from oa- eyes, which still conlinued fixed 
upon them. They remained standing in a line upon the 
chore till they lost sight of us. As wc set sail about 



SHIPWBECK OF THE SLOOP BETSY. 18S 

aine o'clock in the morning, steering north-east, and as 
Man of War Bay is situated at the north east point of 
the island, we were a long time in sight of each other. 
I still recollect the moment when they disappeared from 
my sight, and the profound regret which iilied my 
heart. I feared that I should never again be so happy 
as I had been among them. I love them, and will con- 
tinue to love, my dear Caraibs as long as I live ; I would 
shed my blood for the first of those benevolent savages 
that might stand in need of my assistance, if chance should 
ever bring one of them to Europe, or my destiny should 
again conduct me to 'their island. 

In three days we arrived at Barbadoes. I continued to* 
have a violent oppression on my breast, which checked 
respiration, and was not yet able fcO go without crutches. 
We received from the whole island marks of the most 
tender interest, and the most generous compassion ; 
the benevolence of the inhabitants was unbounded. 
The celebrated Dr. Hilery, the author of a treatise on 
the diseases peculiar to that island, came to see me, 
with Dr. Lilihorn. They prescribed various remedies, 
but without effect. Both Williams and myself were 
unable to speak wfthout the greatest difficulty. Williams 
remained at Barbadoes, but I, being more affected, and 
less robust, was advised to return to Europe. In com- 
pliance with their advice I went to London, where I 
was attended by doctors Reeves, Akenside, Schomberg, 
and the most celebrated physicians in that metropolis, 
who gave me all the assistance within the power of their 
rat, from which I received scarcely any relief. At 
length, after I had been about a week in London, Dr. 
Alexander Russell, on his return from Bath, heard my 
case mentioned. He came to see me, and with his 
accustomed humanity promised to undertake my cure, 
without any fee ; but he candidly acknowledged that it 
would be both tedious and expensive. I replied, that 
the generosity of the inhabitants of Barbadoes had ren- 
dered me easy on that head, intreating him to prescribe 
for me, and thanking him for his obliging offers. 

As he had practiced for a loiig time at Aleppo, he 
had there seen great numbers afflicted with the same 
malady as myself, produced by long thirst in traversing 



I8£ sBjpwKseK oi? the sloop estst. 

the deserts cf Africa. He ordered mo to leave town i<j 
enjoy a more wholesome air. I took a lodging at Horn- 
ferton, near Hackney; there he ordered me to be bathed 
every morning, confining me to asses milk as my only 
food, excepting a few new laid eggs, together with mode- 
rate exercise, and a ride on horseback every day. Af- 
ter about a month of this regimen he ordered a goat to 
be brought every morning to my bedside ; about five 
o'clock I drank a glass of her milk, quite hot, and &lep 
"spon It. He then allowed me to take some light chicken 
broth, with a morsel of the wing. By means of this 
diet my malady was in great degree removed in the space 
of about five months, and I was in a state to resume 
any occupation I pleased ; but my constitution has ever 
since been extremely delicate, and my stomach ia par* 
ticular v«r£ weak. 



185 



THE SHIPWRECK OP 

A PORTUGUESE VESSEL, 

With Emmanuel Sosa and his Wife Ehonora Garcia Sal<% 

On the East Coast of Africa, in 1553. 



E> 



iMMANUEL SOSA DE SEPULVEDA, descended- 

from one of the most ancient and distinguished families 
of Portugal, obtained great reputation in the Indies by 
his courage and talents. About the middle of the six- 
teenth century, he obtained the government of the cita- 
del of Biu, a post given only to officers of merit and 
tried valor. This situation he held several years, till 
conceiving an irresistable desire to revisit his native land, 
he embarked at the port of Cochin. The vessel in which 
he sailed, had on board- the wealth he had amassed, to- 
gether with the property of the officers and passengers 
who accompanied him. Sosa likewise took with him 
his wife, Eleonora Garcia, the daughter of Sala, at that 
time general of the Portuguese in the Indies; his chil- 
dren; his brother-in-law Pantaleon Sala; together, with 
several officers and gentlemen. The number of sailors, 
servants, and slaves, was very great; the whole of the 
crew and passengers amounting to about six hundred 
persons. 

An acquaintance with the sea and winds has proved 
that the month of Jauuary is the most favorable season 
for the passage from India to Europe. Sala stopped to 
make some purchases at Coulan, by which he was de- 
tained till February. On the 13th of April,, they discov- 
ered the eoast of Caffraria; from thence they proceeded, 
Without accident, to the Cape of Good Hope, when a 
xiorth wind thafarbse, produced the most tremendous hur- 
Q2 



183 THE SHIPWRECK OP 

ricane that had ever been experienced in those se?s. 
The sky was suddenly overcast, the waves rising to the 
clouds, threatened every moment to ingulph the vessel : 
the darkness was interrupted only by the lightning's blaze 
ar.i the pealing thunder, which struck terror into the 
hearts of the most resolute. The pilot and sailors de- 
liberated whether they should strike the yards and wajt 
at sea till the tempest was over ; but being terrified by 
its continuing with redoubled fury, and deprived of all 
hope of being able to double the Oape, on account of the 
season, they unanimously agreed to steer their course 
back to India. In this design, they were not more fortu- 
nate than in the other, and the unrelenting winds seemed 
to have conspired the destruction of the wretched vessel, 
which was already considerably injured ; in vain the pi- 
lot and sailors employed their utmost efforts to save her 
From their fury. The sides were so rudely shaken by 
the waves, that at length the planks gave way, and the 
ship made more water than the pumps were able to dis- 
charge. The goods were thrown overboard to lighten 
i he vessel, but this measure did not Irssen the danger. 
Their condition was hopeless, and every wave threatened 
them with inevitable destruction; but after the tempest 
had continued several days, without intermission, a south 
wind decided their fate, and drove the ship aground, 
which was the least misfortune that could happen to 
them. 

The anchor was immediately thrown out, and the 
boats, which were their last resource, were hoisted over- 
board. Sosa, his wife, and children, and the principal 
persons of his suite, snatching up in haste their most 
valuable effects, threw themselves into the boats. New 
dangers attended them ; the waves, impelled by the 
force of the wind, dashed against the shore and formed 
mountains, that appeared ready to overwhelm their fee- 
ble bark. At length, after much difficulty and danger, 
ibey reached the shore. All could not effect their es- 
cape in the boats, for after the second or third voyage, 
Ihey were dashed to pieces upon hidden rocks ; at the 
same time the cable parted, and those who remained in 
she vessel, had no other method of saving^their lives thaft 
to throw themselves overboard and endeavor to gain the 



A PORTUGUESE VESSEL. 187 

shore. Some seized hold of casks, or boxes, while 
others trusted to their strength and expertness in swim- 
ming. Very few, however, were so fortunate as to ar- 
rive without accident, and by this disaster three hundred 
men, Portuguese and foreigners, lost their lives. Those 
who escaped, had scarcely reached the shore when the 
vessel foundered. This loss overwhelmed the Portu- 
guese with despair; from the fragments of the ship they 
might have constructed a brigantine, and have gone to 
seek some relief at Sofala and Mozambique ; but from 
this hope they were now completely cut off. 

The country on which they were wrecked was in the 
latitude of 31 deg. south. Sosa directed large fires to be 
made, in order to dry and warm his people, who suffer- 
ed exceedingly from cold, hunger, and their wounds. 
He distributed among them, with the greatest economy, 
a small quantity of flour picked up from the wreck, but 
half spoiled by the salt water. Their situation was dread- 
ful. The shore presented to their view nothing but de- 
sert sands and arid rocks. After a long search they dis- 
covered some springs of fresh water, which were ex* 
tremely serviceable, and then began to form an entrench- 
ment of boxes and large stones that they might pass the 
night in safety, Sosa, on this occasion, forgot none of 
the duties of a good citizen and a benevolent matter. 
Here he remained with his people till they had recovered 
from the fatigues of the sea, and as long as he entertain- 
ed any hope of being able to subsist upon the provisions 
s thrown on shore from the vessel. It became necessary, 
however, to think of removing, and they deliberated upon 
the course that ought to be pursued : all were in favor 
of proceeding along the coast till they found the river to 
which Marchesez had given the name of §anto Spiritu, 
and where the Portuguese of Sofala and Mozambique 
carried on a considerable traffic. 

That river was about one hundred and eighty leagues 
distant from their post. Sosa, after adopting the resolu- 
tion, encouraged his troop, and exhorted them, by his 
words and example, not to lose their courage. " Before 
a person exposes himself," said he, " to the dangers of 
the sea he ought to be resolved to bear thirst, hunger, 
hardships, and inconvenience of every kind. Fa? fifoxft 



188 THE SHIPWRECK OF 

being dejected at their approach, he ought to meet them 
as if he had expected them, and substitute those transient 
evils, instead of the eternal misery due to the crimes he 
has committed. In our present misfortune, (added he,) 
we ought less to consider what we have lost than what 
we have saved ; the loss of our property is a small object 
when compared with the preservation of our lives. 1 can 
give you no better advice than to resign all private claims, 
and relinquish all personal and individual interest in fa- 
vor of the public welfare. If we are split into parties we 
can never be secure, but while united we have nothing to 
fear." He concluded with a prayer, extorted by love, 
in behalf of his wife and children, and intreated his com- 
panions in misfortune to pay some respect on the way, 
to the sex of the one and the age of the others. All re- 
plied, it was but just that the strongest and most robust 
should assist the weakest, that he might lead them 
wherever he pleased, and that they would pever with- 
draw themselves from his command. 

They immediately set off. This caravan was. com- 
posed of Sosa, his wife Eleonora, a woman of a masculine 
courage, their children, as yet too young to know the dan- 
gers of their situation, Andrew Vasez, the master of the 
vessel, and eighty Portuguese. This first troop was fol- 
lowed by about one. hundred servants, who alternately 
carried tjie children on their backs, and their mistress on 
a rude kind of chair. These were succeeded by the 
sailors, and the female servants ; and Pantaleon, with a 
number of Portuguese and slaves, closed the rear. 

After proceeding several days through a very danger- 
ous country, they were stopped by inaccessible rocks, 
and torrents, swelled by the rains that had recently fallen. 
By endeavoring to discover the easiest roads, they had 
made a circuit of above one hundred leagues, while they 
would have had to go but thirty if they had kept along 
the sea-coast. Their provisions were soon consumed, 
and they were obliged to live upon apples and wild fruits, 
and even upon, certain herbs, of which the animals of 
that country are very fond 

After a progress of four months they at length arrived 
at the river Santo Spiritu, but without recognizing it, for 
the country is traversed by three different branches, 



A TOIITUGUESE VESSEL, I Vd 

whick units before they discharge themselves into the 
sea. 

Their doubts were removed by the king of the district, 
who was the more favorably disposed towards the ?or» 
luguese, because he had, some time before, traded 
peaceably with Lorenzo Marchesez and Antonio Came- 
ra, That prince gave a kind reception to Sosa and his 
people;, and informed them, that the temg of. the comitiy 
contiguous to his dominions was a crafty and rapacious 
man, of whom (hey ought to beware. The desire of 
speedily reaching some place inhabited by Europeans, 
rendered them blind to the misfortunes that were pre- 
dicted ; but they soon had reason to repent having pass- 
ed the second ami of the river. 

The following day they perceived two hundred Oaf- 
frees coming towards them. Though exhausted with 
hardships and fatigue they prepared their arms and p^i 
themselves in a posture of defence ; but seeing that the 
Caffrees approached them peaceably, and rather showed 
a desire of forming an acquaintance with them than of 
doing them any injury, their fears were dissipated; and 
they endeavored to obtain provisions, either for money 
or in exchange for implements of iron, which those peo- 
ple highly value. A mutual confidence appeared to be 
established, and the wants of the Portuguese encouraged 
their good opinion of the natives, but the opportunity of 
stripping the strangers of all they possessed was too favor- 
able for the barbarians to be neglected. In order to ac- 
complish their design with the greater facility, they gave 
the Portuguese to understand, that if they would proceed 
to the habitation of their king, they would experience a 
gracious reception. Their excessive weariness, their joy 
at having found the river they were in search of, and a 
still more powerful motive, the want of provisions, in- 
duced them to embrace the proposal of the Caffrees. 
They followed them towards the habitation of their chief; 
but the latter directed them to stop on the way, in a place 
shaded by trees. Here they remained several days, during 
which they purchased various kinds of coarse provisions 
with the effects they had saved from the wreck. Deceiv- 
ed by the air of sincerity of those people, Sosa conceived 
that he might tvait at this place for the arrival of scfm 



ISO THE SHIPWRECK OP 

merchants from Sofala, and demanded permission of the 
king to erect huts for himself, his wife, and all his people, 
whose number bad been much diminished by the fatigues 
of their long peregrination. 

The king, with more artifice than he could he suspect- 
ed of, told Sosa, that two circumstances retarded the fa- 
vorable reception wtych he wished to give them ; the 
first was the clearness and scarcity of provisions ; and the 
second, the fear which his subjects entertained of the 
swords and fire-arms of the Portuguese; that if these 
were sent to him as a pledge of their peaceable aud 
tranquil disposition, he would agree to their request. . 

The hope of arriving at the end of their hardships in- 
duced the Portuguese to comply with these conditions,, 
to which prudence ought to have dictated a refusal. In 
vuinEleouora reminded Sosa of the unfavorable account 
given of this sovereign by the other king; deaf to the in- 
treaties and admonitions of his wife he accepted, with fa- 
tal credulity, the subtile offers of this prince. The rest 
of the troop followed their captain's example, and the 
arms were delivered to the perfidious monarch. They, 
however, soon repented of this step, for the Caffrees im- 
mediately seized upon the treasures they had brought 
with them with such fatigue, and stripped them of all their 
clothes. Those who attempted to make any resistance 
were massacred without mercy by the unrelenting bar- 
barians. 

Eleonora alone resisted with eourage ; but of what 
avail are the efforts of a female against men of a dispo- 
sition so ferocious ! They stripped her likewise of all 
her clothes. Ashamed to be exposed stark naked to the 
view of those wretches, and of her own servants, she 
threw herself into a ditch a few paces distant, and buri- 
ed herself, as it were, in the sand, resolving not 
to leave that situation. Overwhelmed with fatigue 
and chagrin she could not forbear saying to Andrew 
Vasez, and others of the Portuguese who would not 
leave her : " There, my friends, you see the conse- 
quence of your silly confidence. Go : I want nothing 
more ; think only of yourselves ; and should heaven 
permit you to revisit your native land, te\l those who in- 
quire after the unfortunate Lleonora aud her husband, 



A PORTUGUESE VESSEL. 193 

that our sins have drawn upon us the indignation of 
heaven, and have precipitated us into this abyss of mis- 
ery." Here sighs choaked her utterence, but she cast 
a tender look at her children and her husband. The 
latter, overcome with grief for his imprudence, and its 
fatal consequences, remained motionless. The Caffres 
had, by this time, retired with all their booty ; his com- 
panions had dispersed to avoid the fate that impended 
over them, and not one was to be seen. At length the 
sentiments of tenderness were again excited in his breast, 
and he ran about, in every direction, in quest of fruit, 
of any kind, by which he might prolong the existence 
of his wife and his wretched infants. But naked and 
unarmed Sosa was unable to find any thing in a country 
ravaged by barbarians and burned up by the sun. He 
frequently returned exhausted with fatigue, and the last 
time he returned he found that his wife and children 
had expired with hunger and thirst. He had sufficient 
strength to perform the rites of interment, after which, 
fleeing from this scene of horror, he roved about in the 
deserts, where, doubtless he died, as he was never 
heard of afterwards. 

Such was the fatal issue of Sosa's voyage in the year 
1553. The miserable remains of this troop, reduced in 
number to twenty-six persons, by the fatigues and mise- 
ries they endured, wandered about a long time, and 
were, at length, treated as slaves. They would all 
Mve finished their career in this state of hardship had 
humiliation had not a Portuguese merchant, who repaired 
from Mozambique to this part of the country to purchase 
ivory, ransomed them for four piastres a piece. Of 
leon Sala was one ; he died at Lisbon of an these Panta- 
apoplexy, at a very advanced age. 

The disaster of Sosa excited great compassion among 
his countrymen, but did not correct their imprudence. 
The following year five more vessels sailed from the 
port of Cochin for Portugal, under the command of 
Fernand Alvarez Capral. Only oue of these ships arri- 
ved at Lisbon, after encountering a thousand dangers, 
ft is not known what became of any of the others, ex- 
cepting the St. Benedict, Which was so deeply laden 
that the sailors could scarcely work her. A violent 



192 THE SHIPWRECK OF, &CC. 

temper, t overtook her in the middle of her course, near 
the Cape of Good Hope ; a gale of wind drove her 
ashore and destroyed her on the desert coast called 
Natal. Two hundred men, who endeavored to save 
themselves by swimming, perished on this- occasion. 

JHes-quita Percstrella, who survived this disaster, and 
has left a very accurate account of it, exaggerates the 
terrors which his companions underwent by the appari- 
tion of demons in the air, and the noise of the wandering 
spirits of the sailors, which he declares that he both saw 
and heard. The unfortunate wretches who escaped from 
the wreck experienced the same hardships as Sosa and 
his company ; for having pursued almost the same course, 
they had to endure the greatest xtremiiy of hunger and 
thirst. In short, from three hundred they were reduced 
in number to twenty- three, who, half dead with famine 
and fatigue, were at length made slaves. A few months 
afterwards some merchants, who visited that part of the 
country for the purpose of trade, ransomed and conveyed 
ihem to Softda and Mozambique, where they arrived af 
ter suffering almost incredible misery. 



193 



NARRATIVE OF THE 

LOSS OF THE BRIG TYRREL, 

Captain Arthur Cochlan : 

Which rvxts overset in a Gale of Wind on her Passage 

from New-York to Antigua, communicated 

by T. Purnett, the Chief Mate. 



IN addition to the many dreadful shipwrecks 
already narrated, the following, which is a circumstan* 
tial account given by T. Purnell, chief mate of the 
brig Tyrrel, Arthur Cochlan, commander, and the only 
person among the whole crew who had the good fortuue 
to escape, claims our particular attention. 

On Saturday, June 28th, 1759, they sailed from 
New -York to Sandy Hook, and there came to an an- 
chor, waiting for the captain's coming down with a new 
boat, and some other articles. Accordingly he came 
on board early the succeeding morning, and the boat 
cleared, hoisted in, stowed and lashed. At eight 
o'clock, A. 3V1. they weighed anchor, sailed out of 
Sandy Hook, and the same day at noon, took their 
departure from the High Land Never Sunk, and proceed- 
ed on their passage to Antigua. As soon as they made 
sail, the captain ordered the boat to be cast loose, in 
order that she might be painted, with the oars, rudder, 
and tiller, which job he (Captain Cochlan) undertook 
to do himself. 

At four P. M. they found the vessel made a little 
more water, than usual ; but as it did not cause much 
additional labor at the pump, nothing was thought of it. 
At eighi, the leak did not seem to increase. At twelve 
it began to blow ve\y hard in squalls, which caused the 
R 



194 LOSS OF THE fcRIG TYRREL. 

vessel to lie down very much, whereby it was apprehend- 
ed she wanted more ballast. Thereupon the captain, 
e*me on deck, being the starboard watch, close reefed 
* both top-sails. 

At four A. M. the weather moderated — let out both 
reefs : — at eight it became still more moderate, and they 
made more sail, and set top gallant sails ; the weather 
was still thick and hazy. There was no further obser- 
vation taken at present, except that the vessel made more 
water. The captain was now chiefly employed in paint- 
ing the boat, oars, rudder, and tiller. 

On Monday, June .30th, at four P. M. the wind was at 
E. *N. E. freshened very much, and blew so very hard, 
ts occasioned the brig to lie along in such a manner as 
caused general alarm. The captain was now earnestly 
jntreated to put for New- York, or steer for the Capes of 
Virginia. At eight, took in top-gallant sail, and close 
.reefed both top-sails, still making more weather. After- 
wards the weather became still more moderate and fair, 
and they made more sail. 

July 1st, at four A. M. it began to blow in squalls very 
hard; took -in one reef in each topsail, and continued 
so until eight A. M. the weather being still thick and 
hazy. — No observation. 

rriie next day she made still more water, but as every 
watch pumped it out, this was little regarded. At 
four P. M. took second reef in each top sail, close 
reefed both, and down top-gallant yard ; the gale still 
increasing. 

At four A. JVI. the wind got round to N. and there 
was .no likelihood of its abating. At eight, the captain, 
well satisfied that she was very crank and ought to have 
had more ballast, agreed to jnake for Bacon-Island 
Road, in North Carolina ; and in the very act of wear- 
ing her, a sudden gust of wind laid her down on her 
beam-ends, and she never rose again ! At this time Mr. 
Purnell was lying in the cabin, with his clothes on, not 
having pulled them off since they -!eft land. Having 
been rolled out of his bed (on his chest,) with great 
difficulty he reached the round-house door the first salu- 
tation he met with was from the step-ladder that went 
from the quarter-deck to the poop, whirh knocked him 



LOSS OF THE BRIG TYRREfc, 10 i) 

against the companion, (a lucky circumstance for those 
below, as, by laying the ladder against the companion 
it served both him and 1he rest of the people who were 
in the steerage, as a conveyance to windward ;) having 
transported the two after guns forward to bring her more 
by the head, in order to make her hold a better wind : 
thus they got through the aftermost gun-port on the 
quarter-deck, and being all on her broad side, every 
moveable rolled to leeward, and as /the vessel overset,- 
so did the boat, and turned bottom upwards, her lash- 
ings being cast loose, by order of the captain, and hav- 
ing no other prospect of saving their lives but by the 
boat, Purnell, with two others, and the cabin boy (who 
were excellent swimmers) plunged into the water, art$ 
with great difficulty righted her, when she was brim full, 
and washing with the water's edge. They then made 
fast the end of the main-sheet to the ring in her stem- 
post, and those who were in the fore-chains sent down 
the end of the boom- tackle, to which they made fast the 
boat's painter, and by which they lifted her a little out of 
the water, so that she swam about two or three inches v 
free, but almost full. They then put the cabin-boy' into 
her, and gave him a bucket that happened to float by, 
and he baled away as quick as he could, and soon after 
another person got in with another bucket, and in a 
short time got all the water out of her. They then put 
two long oars that were stowett in the larboard quarter 
^of the Tyrrel into the boat, and pulled or rowed right to 
windward ; for, as the wreck drifted, she made a dread- 
ful appearance in the water, and Mr. Purnell and two 
of the people put off from the wreck, in search of the 
oars, rudder and tiller. After a long while they succeed- 
ed in picking them all up, one after another. They 
then returned to their wretched companions, who were 
all overjoyed to see them, having given them up for 
lost. By this time night drew on very fast. While 
(hey were rowing in the boat, some small quantity of 
white biscuit (Mr. Purnell supposed about half a peck,} 
floated in a small cask, out of the round house ; but',' 
before it came to hand, was so soaken with salt water, 
that it was almost in a fluid state ; and about double 
the. quantity of common ship-biscuit likewise floated^ 



196 -LOSS OP THE BRIG TYRREL. 

which was in like manner soaken. This was all the pro- 
visions that they had ; not a drop of fresh water could 
they get ; neither could the carpenter get at any of his 
tools to scuttle her sides, for, could this have been 
accomplished, they miu;ht have saved plenty of provi- 
sions and water. 

By this time it was almost dark ; having got one com- 
pass, it was determined to quit the wreck, and take 
their chance in the boat, which was nineteen feet six 
inches long, and six feet four inches broad : Mr. Pur- 
nell supposes it was now about nine o'clock : it was 
very dark. They had run 360 miles by their dead 
reckoning, on a S. E. by E. course. The number in the 
boat was 17 in all ; the boat was very deep, and little hopes 
were entertained of either seeing land or surviving long. 
The wind got round to westward, which was the course 
they wanted to steer ; but it began to blow and rain so 
very hard, that they were obliged to keep the boat 
before the wind and sea, in order to preserve her above 
waiter. Soon after they had put off from the wreck the 
boat shipped two heavy seas, one after another, so that 
they were obliged to keep her before the wind and sea ; 
for had she shipped another sea, she certainly would 
have swamped with them. 

By sun-rise the next morning, July 3d, they judged 
thai they had been running E. S. E. which was con- 
trary to their wishes. The wind dying away, the weather 
became very moderate. The compass which they had 
saved proved cf no utility, one of the people having 
trod upon, and broken it ; it was accordingly thrown 
overboard. They now proposed to make a sail of frocks 
?,m\ trowsers, but they had got neither needless nor sew- 
ing-twine ; one of the people however, had a needle in 
his knife, and another several fishing lines in his 
pockets, which were unlaid by some, and others were 
employed in ripping the frocks and trowsers. By sun-set 
they bad provided a tolerable lugsail : having split one 
of the boat's thouts (which was of yellow deal,) with a 
very large knife, which one of the crew had in his 
pocket, they made a yard and lashed it together by the 
strands of the fore- top gallant halyards, that were thrown 
into the boat promiscuously. They also made a mast 



LOSS OF THE BRIG TYRREL. 197 

of one of the long oars, and set their sails, with sheets 
and tacks made out of the strands of the top-gallant 
halyards. Their only guide was the North Star. They 
had a tolerable good breeze all night ; and the whole of 
the next day, July 4th, the weather continued very mo- 
derate, and the people were in as good spirits as their 
dreadful situation would admit. 

July 5th, the wind and weather continued much the 
same and they knew by the North Star that they were 
standing in for land. The next day Mr. Purnell observ- 
ed some of the men drinking salt water, and seeming 
rather fatigued. At this time they imagined the wind 
had got round to i he southward, and they steered, as they 
thought by the North Star, to the northwest quarter ; but 
on the 7th, the wind had got back to the northward and 
blew very fresh. They got their oars out the greatest 
part of the night and the next day, the wind still dying 
away, the people labored alternately at the oars, without 
distinction. About noon the wind sprung up so that they 
lay on their oars, and as they thought, steered about 
£?.' N. W. and continued so until about eight or nine in 
the morning of July 9th, when they all thought they 
w r ere upon soundings, by the coldness of the water. 
They were in general in very good spirits. The weather 
continued still thick and hazy, and by the North Star,, 
they found* that they had been steering about north by 
west. 

July 10. — The people had drank so much saltwater, 
that it came from them as clear as it was before they 
drank it ; and Mr. Purnell perceived that the second 
mate had lost a considerable share of his strength 'and 
spirits ; and also, at noon, that the carpenter was deliri- 
ous, his malady increasing every hour ; about dusk he 
had almost overset ■ the boat, by attempting to throw 
himself overboard, and otherwise behaving quite violent. 
As his strength, however, failed him, he became more 
manageable, and they got him to lie down in the middle 
of the boat, among some of the people. Mr. Purnell 
drank once a little salt water, but could not relish it ; he 
preferred his own urine, which he drank occaiionly as 
he made it. Soon after sun-set the second mate lost 
his soeecli, 'Mr. Purnell desired him to lean his head 
B2 



198 LOSS OF THE BRIG TYRREL. 

or him : he died without a groan or struggle, on the 1 Ifli 
of July, being the 9th day they were in the boat. In a 
few minutes after the carpenter expired almost in a simi- 
lar manner. These melancholy scenes rendered the 
situation of the survivors more dreadful ; it is impossible 
to describe their feelings. Despair became general ; 
every man imagined his own dissolution was near. 
They all now went to prayers ; some in the Welch lan- 
guage, some in Irish, and others in English ; then after a 
Httle deliberation, they stripped the two dead men, and 
hove them overboard. 

The weather being now very mild, and almost calm, 
they turned to, cleaned the boat, and resolved to make 
their sail larger out of the frocks and trowsers of the two 
deceased men. Purnell got the captain to lie down with 
the rest of the people, the boatswain and one man ex- 
cepted, who assisted him in making the sail larger, which 
they had completed by six or seven o'clock in the after- 
noon, having made a shroud out of the boat's painter, 
which served as a shifting back-stay. Purnell also fixed 
his red flannel waistcoat at the mast head, as a signal the 
most likely to be seen. 

Soon after this some of them observed a sloop at a 
great distance, coming, as they thought, from the land. 
"This roused every man's spirits : they got out their oars, 
at which they labored alternately, exerting all their re- 
maining strength to come up with her ; but night coming 
on, antf the sloop getting a fresh breeze of wind, they 
lost sight of her, which occasioned a general consterna- 
tion ; however, the appearance of the North Star, which 
they kept on their starboard bow, gave them hopes that 
they stood in for land. This night one William Wathing 
died ; he was 64 years of age, and bad been to sea 50 
years : quite worn out with fatigue and hunger, he earn- 
estly prayed, to the last moment for a drop of water to 
cool his tongue. Early the next morning Hugh Williams 
also died, and in the course of the day, another of the 
crew ; entirely exhausted, they both expired without a 
groan. 

Early in the morning of July 1 3th, it began to blow 
very fresh, and increased so much that they were obliged 
to furl their sail, and keep their boat before the wind and 



IjOSS OF THE BRIG TYRREL. 199 

sea, which drove them off soundings. In the evening 
their gunner died. The weather now becoming mode- 
rate, and the wind in the S. W. quarter, they made sail, 
not one of them being able to row or pull an oar at any 
rate ; they ran all this night with a fine breeze. 

The next morning, July 14th, two more of the crew 
died, and in the evening they also lost the same number. 
They found they were on soundings again, and conclud- 
ed the wind had got round to the N. W. quarter. They 
stood in for the land all this night, and early on July 16ib, 
two others died : the deceased were thrown overboard 
as soon as their breath had departed. The weather was 
now thick and hazy, and they were still certain that 
they were on soundings. 

The cabin boy was seldom required to do any thing, 
and as his intellects, at this time, were very good, and 
his understanding clear, it was the opinion of Mr. Purnell 
that he would' survive them all, but he prudently kept 
his thoughts to himself. The captain seemed likewise 
tolerably well, and te have kept up his spirits. On ac- 
count of the haziness of the weather, they could not so 
well know how they steered in the day-time, as at night : 
lor, whenever the North Star appeared, they endeavored 
to keep it on their starboard bow, by which means they 
were certain of making the land some time or other. In 
the evening two more of the crew died ; also, before 
sun- rise, one Thomas Philpot, an old experienced sea- 
man, and very strong ; he departed rather convulsed : 
having latterly lost the power of articulation, his mean- 
ing could not be comprehended. He was a native of 
Belfast, Ireland, and had no family. The survivors 
found it very difficult to heave his body overboard as he 
was a very corpulent man. 

About six or seven the next morning, July 1 6th, they 
stood in for land, according to the best of their judg- 
ment ; the weather still thick and hazy. Purnell now 
prevailed upon the captain and boatswain of the boat to 
lie down in the fore part of the boat, to bring her more 
by the head, in order to make her hold a better wind. 
In tiie evening the cabin boy, who lately appeared so 
well, breathed his last, leaving behind the captain, the 
boatswain, and Mr. Purney, 



200 LOSS OF THE BRIG TYRREL. 

The next morning, July 171h, Purnell asked his two 
companions if they thought they could eat any of the 
boy's flesh ; and having expressed an inclination to try, 
and the boy being quite cold, he cut the inside Gf his 
thigh, a little above his knee, and gave a piece to the 
captain and boatswain, reserving a small piece for him- 
self; but so weak were their stomachs, that none of 
them could swallow a morsel of it; the body was there- 
fore thrown overboard. 

Early in the morning of ihe 18th, Mr. Purnell found 
both of his companions dead and cold ! Thus destitute, 
he began to think of his own dissolution ; though feeble, 
his understanding was still clear, and his spirits as good 
as his forlorn situation would possibly admit. By the 
color and coldness of the water, he knew he was not far 
from larul, and still maintained hopes of making it. 
The weather continued very fosrgy. He lay to, all this 
night, which was very dark, with the boat's head to the 
northward. 

In the morning of the 1 9fh, it began to rain ; it cleared 
up in the afternoon, and the wind died away ; still Pur- 
nell was convinced he was on soundings. 

On the 20th, in the afternoon, he thought he saw land, 
and stood in for it ; but night coming on, and it being 
now very dirk, he lay to, fearing he might get on some 
rocks or shoals. 

July 21st, the weather was very fine all the morning, 
but in the afternoon it became thick and hazy. PurnelFs 
spirits still remained good, but his strength was almost 
exhausted: he still drank his own water occasionally. 

On the 22d, he taw some barnacles on the boat's rud- 
der, very similar to the spawn of an oyster, which 
filled him with great hopes of being near to land. He 
unshipped 1he rudder, and scraping them off with his 
knife, found they were of a salt fishy substance, and eat 
them; he was now so weak, and the boat having a great 
motion, that he found it a difficult task to ship ihe rud- 
der. 

At sunrise, July 23d, he became so sure that he saw 
land, that his spirits were considerably raised. In the 
middle of this day he got up, leaned his back against the 
mast. and receive*! succour from the sun, having nrevi- 



LOSS OF THE BRIG TTE.REL. £01 

ously contrived to steer the boat in this position. The 
next day he saw, at a very great distance, some kind of 
a sail, which he judged was coming from the land^ 
which he soon lost sight of. In the middle of the day 
he got up, and received warmth from the sun as before. 
He stood on all night for the land. 

Very early in the morning of the 25th, after drinking 
his morning draught, to his inexpressible joy, he saw, 
while the sun was rising, a sail, and when the sun was 
up, found she was a two-mast vessel. He was, however, 
considerably perplexed, not knowing what to do, as she 
was a great distance astern and to the leeward. In or- 
«jler to watch her motion better, he tacked about. Soon 
after this he perceived she was standing on her starboard 
tack, which was the same he had been standing on for 
many hours. He saw she approached him very fast, and 
he lay to, for some time, till he believed she was within 
two miles of the boat, but still to leeward ; therefore he 
thought it best to steer larger, when he found she was a 
topsail schooner, nearing him very fast. He continued 
to edge down towards her, until he had brought her 
about two points under his lee-bow, having it in his power 
to spring his luff, or bear away. By this time she was 
within half a mile, and he saw some of the people 
standing forward on her deck, and waving for him to 
come under their lee -bow. At the distance of about 
200 yards, they hove the schooner up in the wind, and 
kept her so until Purnell got alongside, when they threw 
him a rope, still keeping the schooner in the wind. 
They now interrogated- him very closely; by the man- 
ner the boat and oars were painted, they imagined she 
belonged to a man of war, and that they had run away 
with her from some of bis majesty's ships at Halifax, 
consequently that they would be liable to some punish- 
ment if they took him up: they also thought,- as the 
captain and boatswain were lying dead in the boat, they 
might expose themselves to some contagious disorder. 
Thus they kept Purnell in suspence for some time. They 
told him they had made the land that morning from 
the mast head, and that they were running along shore 
for Marblehead, to which place they belonged, and where 
they expected to b.e the next morning. At last they told 



202 LOSS OP THE BRIG TYRREL. 

him he might come on board ; which, as he 9aid, fee 
could not without assistance ; when the captain ordered 
two of his men to help him. They conducted him aft 
on the quarter-deck, where they left htm resting against 
the companion. They were now for casting the boat 
adrift, when Purnell told them she was not above a 
month old, built at New-York, and if they would hoist 
her in, it would pay them well for their trouble. To 
this they agreed, and having thrown the" two corpses 
overboard, and taken out the clothes that were left by 
the deceased, they hoisted her in and made sail. 

Being now on board, Purnell asked for a little water ; 
Captain Castleman, (for that was his name} ordered one 
of his sons (having two on board) to fetch him some ; 
when he came with the water, his father looked to see 
how much he was bringing him, and thinking it too 
much threw a part of it away, and desired him to give 
the remainder, which he drank, being the first fresh 
water he had tasted for 23 days. As he leaned all this 
time against the companion, he became very cold, and 
begged to go below : the captain ordered two men to 
help him down to the cabin, where they left him sitting 
on the cabin deck, leaning upon the lockers, all bands 
being now engaged in hoisting in and securing the boat, 
This done, all hands went down to breakfast, except the 
man at the helm. They made some soup for Purnell, 
which he thought very good, but at that time could eat 
but very little, and in consequence of his late draughts, 
he had broke out in many parts of his body, so that he 
was in great pain whenever he stirred. They made a 
bed for him out of an old sail, and behaved very atten- 
tive. While they were at breakfast a squall of wind 
came on, which called them all upon deck ; during their 
absence, Purnell took up a stone bottle, and without 
smelling or tasting it, but thinking it was rum, took a 
hearty draught of it, and found it to be sweet oil ; having 
placed it where he found it, he lay down. 

They still ran along shore with the land in sight, and 
were in great hopes of getting into port that night, but the 
wind dying away, they did not get in till nine o'clock 
♦he next night. All this time Purnell remained like a 



LOSS OP THE BRIG TYRREL. 203 

chilli ; some one or other was always with him, to give 
him whatever he wished to eat or drink. 

As soon as they came to anchor, Captain Castlcman 
went on shore, and returned on board the next morning 
with the owner, John Picket, Esq. Soon after they got 
Purnell into a boat and carried him on shore ; but he 
was still so very feeble, that he was obliged to be sup- 
ported by two men. Mr. Picket took a very genteel 
lodging for him, and hired a nurse to attend him ; lie 
was immediately put to bed, and afterwards provided 
with a change of clothes. In the course of the day he 
was visited by every doctor in the town, who all gave 
him hopes of recovering ; but told him it would be some 
time, for the stronger the constitution, (said they) the 
longer it takes to recover its lost strength. Though 
treated with the utmost tenderness and humanity, it was 
three weeks before he was able to come down stairs. He 
stayed in Marblehead two months, during which he lived 
very comfortably, and gradually recovered his strength. 
The brig's boat and oars were sold for $95, which paid 
all his expences, and procured him a passage to Boston. 
The nails of his fingers and toes withered away almost 
to nothing, and did not begin to grow for many months 
after. 



£0* 



NARRATIVE OP THE 

SUFFERINGS AND EXTRAORDINARY ADVEN- 
TURES OF FOUR RUSSIAN SAILORS, 

Who were cast arvay on the Desert Island of East- 
Spitsbergen, in 1743. 



JLN the year 1743, Jeremiah Okladmkoff, a mer- 
chant of Mesen, in the Province of Jugovia, and the 
government of Archangel, fitted out a vessel carrying 14 
men. She was destined for Spitsbergen, tojhe employ- 
ed in the whale and seal fishery. For eight successive 
days after they had sailed, the wind was fair ; but on the 
ninth it changed, so that instead of getting to the west of 
Spitsbergen, the usual place of rendevous for the Dutch 
ships, and those of other nations annually employed in 
the whale fisheries, they were driven eastward of those 
i&lands, and after some days they found themselves at a 
small distance from one of them, called East- Spitsber- 
gen. 

Having approached this island within about three 
wersts, or two English miles, their vessel was suddenly 
surrounded by ice, and they found themselves in an ex- 
tremely dangerous situation. In this alarming state a 
consultation was held, when the mate, Alexis Himkoff, 
declared, he recollected he had heard that some of the 
people of Mesen, having some time before, formed a 
resolution of wintering on this island, had accordingly 
carried from that town timber proper for building a hut, 
and had actually erected one at some distance from lie 
snore. 



EXTRAORDINARf ADVENTURES, &CC. 205 

This information induced the whole company to 
resolve on wintering there ; if, as they hoped, the hut 
still existed : for they clearly perceived the imminent 
danger in which they were, and that they must inevita- 
bly perish if they continued in the ship. They, there- 
fore, despatched four of the crew in search of the hut, 
or any other succor they could meet with. These 
were Alexis Himkoff, the mate, Iwan Himkoff, his god- 
son, Stephen Scharapoff, and Feoder Weregin. As the 
shore on which they were to land was uninhabited, it 
was necessary that they should make some provision 
for their expedition. They had almost two miles to 
travel over loose bridges of ice, which being raised by 
the waves, and driven against each other by the wind, ren- 
dered the way equally difficult and dangerous. Prudence, 
iherefore, forbade their loading themselves too much, lest 
being overburthened, they might sink between the pie- 
ces of ice and perish. 

Having thus maturely considered the nature of their 
undertaking, they provided themselves with a musket, 
a powder-horn, containing twelve charges of powder, 
with as many balls; an axe, a small kettle, a bag with 
about twenty pounds of flour, a knife, a tinder box and 
tinder, a bladder filled with tobacco, and every man his 
wooden pipe. Thus equipped these four sailors arrived 
on the island, little suspecting the misfortune that was 
about to befal them. The first thing they did was to ex- 
plore the country, and soon discovered the hut they 
were in search of, about a mile and a half from the shore. 
It was thirty-six feet in length, eighteen in breadth, and 
as many high. It contained a small anti-chamber, about 
twelve feet broad, which had two doors, one to s*nt 
out the exterior air, the other to communicate with the 
Inner room. This contributed greatly to keep the lar- 
ger room warm when once heated. In the large room 
was an earthen stovo, constructed in the Russian man- 
ner ; that is, a kind of oven without a chimney ; which 
serves occasionly either for baking, for heatrng the 
room, or, as is customary among the Russian pcasantsiu 
very cold weather, to sleep upon. 



206 EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF 

This discovery gave our advertturers great joy. The 
hut had, however, suffered much from the weather, 
having now been built a considerable time. They pass- 
ed the night in it, and early the next morning hastened 
to the shore, impatient to inform their comrades of their 
success, and also to procure provisions, ammunition, and 
other necessities as might better enable the crew to win- 
ter on the island. Their astonishment and agony of 
mind, when on reaching the place where they had land- 
ed, they saw nothing but an open sea, free from ice, 
which but the day before had covered the ocean, 
may more easily be conceived than descried, A violent 
storm which had arisen during the' preceding night, had 
been the cause of this disastrous event. But they could 
not tell whether the ice which had before hemmed in 
the vessel, had been driven by the violence of the 
waves against the ship, and shattered her to pieces ; or 
whether she had been carried out to sea by the current, 
a circumstance which frequently happens in those seas. 
Whatever accident had befallen her, they saw her no. 
more ; and as no tidings were ever afterwards received 
of her, it is most probable that she sunk, and that all on 
board of her perished. 

This unfortunate event deprived the wretched mari- 
ners of all hope of ever being able to o.uit the island, 
and they returned to the hut full of horror and despair. 
Their first attention was employed, as may easily be 
imagined, in devising the means of providing subsis- 
tence and repairing their hut. The twelve charges of 
powder which they had brought with them, soon pro- 
cured them as many rein-deer, with which animals the 
i-Arml abounds. 

It has already been observed that the hut discovered 
by the sailors had sustained some damage. There 
were cracks in many places between the boards of the 
building, which allowed free admission to the air. 
This inconvenience was, however, easily remedied ; as 
they had an axe, and ihe beams were still sound, it was 
an easy matter to make the boards join again very tol- 
erably ; besides, as moss grew in great abundance all 
over tke island, there was more than sufficient to fill 



Four Russian sailohs. 207 

up the crevices, to which wooden houses must always 
be liable. Repairs of this kind cost the unhappy men 
the less trouble, as they were Russians, for all Russian 
peasants are good carpenters, building their own 
houses, and being, in general, very expert in handling 
the axe. 

The intense cold which makes those climates habita- 
ble to so few species of animals, renders them equal?;' 
unfit for the production of vegetables. No species of 
tree or even shrub is found on any of the islands of 
Spitsbergen, a circumstance of the most alarming na- 
ture to our sailors. Without fire it was impossible t@ 
resist the severity of the climate ; and without wood 
how was that fire to be produced or supported ? Provi- 
dence has, however, so ordered it, that in this particular 
the sea supplies the defects of the land. In wandering 
along the beach they collected plenty of wood, which 
had been driven ashore by the waves. It consisted at 
first of the wrecks of ships, and afterwards of whole 
trees with their roots, the produce of some more hospi- 
table, but to them unknown^ country. 

During the first year of their exile, nothing proved 
of more essential service to these unfortunate men* 
than some boards they found on the beach, having a 
long iron hook, some nails about five or six inches in 
length and proportionably thick, together with other 
pieces of old iron fixed in them, the melancloly relics 
of some vessels cast away in those remote parts. These 
were thrown on shore by the waves, at a time .when the 
want of powder gave our men reason to apprehend that 
they must fall a prey to hunger, as they had nearly con- 
sumed the rein-deer they had killed. This circumstance 
was succeeded by another equally fortunate ; they found 
on the shore the root of a fir-tree, which nearly approach- 
ed to the figure of a bow. 

As necessity has ever been the mother of invention, 
so with the help of a knife they soon converted this root 
into a good bow; but they still wanting a string and 
arrows. Not knowing how to procure these at present, 
they resolved upon making a couple of lances to defend 
themselves against the white bears, the attacks of which 



203 EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTUEF.S OP 

animals, by far the most ferocious of their kind, (hey 
had great reason to dread. Finding they could neither 
make the heads of their lances, nor their arrows, with- 
out the help of a hammer, they contrived to form the 
large iron hook mentioned above in one, by heating 
it, and widening a hole it happened to have about its 
middle, with the assistance of one of the largest nails. 
This received the handle, and a round knob at one 
end of the hook served for the face of the hammer. A 
large stone supplied the place of the anvil, the tongs 
were formed of a couple of rein deer's horns. With 
these tools they made two spear heads, and after polish- 
ing and sharpening them oh stones, they tied them as 
fast as possible with thongs of rein-deer skin, to sticks 
about the thickness of a man's arm, which they got 
from some branches of trees that had been cast on shore. 
Thus equipped with spears, they resolved to attack a 
white bear ; and after a most dangerous encounter, they 
killed the formidable creature, and thus obtained a fresh 
supply of provisions. The flesh of this animal they 
relished exceedingly, and they thought it much resem- 
bled beef in flavor. They perceived, with great pleas- 
ure, that the tendons might, with little or no trouble, 
be divided into filaments as fine as they pleased. This 
was perhaps the most fortunate discovery these men 
could have made ; for besides other advantages, they 
were thus furnished with strings for their bow. 

Tiie success our unfortunate islanders had experienced 
in making the spears, and the great utility of the latter, 
encouraged them to proceed, and to forge some pieces 
of iron into heads of arrows of the same shape, though 
somewhat smaller than those of the spears. Having 
ground and sharpened these like the former, they tied 
them with the sinews of the white bears to pieces of fir, 
to which, by means of sinews also of the white bear, 
they fastened feathers of sea-fowl, and thus became pos- 
sessed of a complete bow and arrows. Their ingenuity 
in this respect was crowned with success far beyond 
their expectation ; for during the time of their coutinu- 
ance upon the island, they killed with the arrows no less 
»han 250 rein-deer, besides a great number of blue and 



FOUR RUSSIAN SAILORS. 209 

white foxes. The flesh of these animals served them 
for food, and their skins for clothing, and other neces- 
sary preservatives against the intense cold of a climate so 
near the pole. 

They, however, killed only ten white bears in all, and 
these not without the utmost danger ; for these animals 
being prodigiously strong, defended themselves with 
astonishing vigor and fury. The first they attacked de- 
signedly, but the other nine they killed in their own 
defence ; for some of these creatures even ventured to 
enter the outer room of their hut in order to devour 
them All the bears did not, it is true, shew an equal 
degree of fury ; either because some were less pressed 
by hunger, or were naturally of a less ferocious disposi- 
tion ; for several which entered the hut immediately 
betook themselves to flight on the first attempt of the 
sailors to drive them away. A repetition of the formi- 
dable attacks threw the men into great terror and anx- 
iety, as they were in almost perpetual danger of being 
devoured. The rein-deer, the blue and white foxes ? 
and the white bears, were the only food these wretched 
mariners tasted during their continuance in that dreary 
abode. 

In their excursions through the island, they had found 
nearly the middle of it a~slimy loam, or a kind of clay 
Out of this they found means to form a utensil to serve 
for a lamp, and they proposed to keep it constantly 
burning with the fat of the animals they might kill. To 
have been destitute of light, in a country where, in win 
ter, darkness reigns for several months together, would 
have greatly increased their other calamities. Having, 
therefore, fashioned a kind of lamp, they filled it with 
some rein-deer's fat, and stuck in it some linen twisted 
into the shape of a wick. But they had the mortific alien 
to find that, as soon as the fat melted, it not only soak 
ed into the clay, but fairly ran through it on all sides. 
It was, therefore, necessary to contrive some method of 
preventing this inconvenience, which did not proceed 
from cracks, but from the subsistance of which the lamp 
was made being too porous. They made another one, 
dried it thoroughly in the air, then heated it red hot, ai><! 
S2 



210 EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF 

afterwards quenched it in their kettle, in which they had 
boiled down a quantity of flour to the consistance of 
starch. The lamp being then dried and filled with melt- 
ed fat, they now found to their great joy that it did not 
leak. But, for greater security, they dipped linen rags 
in their paste, and with them covered it all over on the 
outside. Having succeeded in this attempt, they imme- 
diately made another lamp for fear of an accident, that 
at all events they might not be destitute of a light ; upon 
which they determined to reserve the remainder of their 
flour for similar purposes. 

As they had carefully collected whatever happened to 
be cast on shore to supply themselves with fuel, they 
had found among the wrecks of vessels some cordage 
and a small quantity of oakum, which served them to 
make wicks for their lamp. When these stores began 
to fail, their shirts and trowsers were employed to make 
good the deficiency. By these means they kept their 
lamp buning without intermission, from the day they 
first made it, which was soon after their arrival on the 
island, until that of their embarkation for their native 
country. 

The necessity of converting the most essential parts 
of their clothing, such as their shirts and drawers, 
to the use above specified, exposed them the more to 
the rigor of the climate. They also found themselves 
in want of shoes, boots, and other articles of dress ; 
and as winter was approaching, they were again obliged 
To have recourse to that ingenuity which necessity sug- 
gests, and which seldom fails in the trying hour of 
distress. 

They had abundance of skins of foxes and rein- deer, 
that had hitherto served them for bedding, and which 
they now thought of employing to some more essential 
service, but they were at a loss how to tan them. After 
some deliberation, they resolved to adopt the following 
method : They soaked the skins for several days in fresh 
Water, till they could pull off the hair pretty easily ; 
they then rubbed the wet skin with their hands until it 
was nearly dry, when they spread some melted ram- 
deer <at over it, and again rubbed it well. By this pro- 



FOUR RUSSIAN SAILORS. 211 

cess the leather was rendered soft, pliant, and supple, 
and proper -for every purpose for which they wanted to 
employ it. Those skins that were designed for furs, 
they soaked only one day to prepare them for being 
wrought, and then proceeded in the manner before- 
mentioned, excepting only that they did not remove the 
hair. Thus they soon provided themselves with the ne- 
cessary materials for all the parts of dress they wanted. 

They made a curious needle out of a piece of wire ; 
and the sinews of the bear and rein-deer, which they 
split into several threads, served them to sew with. 

Excepting an uneasiness which generally accompanies 
an involuntary solitude, these people having thus, by 
their ingenuity, so far overcome their wants, might have 
had reason to be contented with what Providence had 
done for them in their distressful situation. But that 
melancholy reflection, to which each of these forlorn 
persons could not help giving way, that perhaps he might 
survive his companions, and then perish for want of sub- 
sistance, or become a prey to the wild beasts, incessantly 
disturbed their minds. The mate, Alexis Himko^ 
more particularly suffered ; having left a wife and three 
children behind, he was deeply afflicted at his separation 
from them. Be declared, after his return, that they 
were constantly in his mind, and that the thought of never 
more seeing them rendered him very unhappy. 

When our four mariners had passed nearly six years 
in this dreary place, Feodor Weregin, who had from the 
first been in a languid condition, died, after suffering 
excruciating pains during the latter part of his life. 
Though they were relieved by that event from the trouble 
of attending him, and the pain of witnessing without 
being able to alleviate his misery, yet his death affected 
them not a little. They saw their numbers diminished, 
and each of the survivors wished to be the next to folr 
low him. 

As he died in winter, they dug a grave in the snow as 
deep as they could, in which they laid the corpse, and 
then covered it to the best of their power, that the white 
bears might not get at it. The melancloly rejections 



212 EXTRAORDINARY ADVENTURES OF 

occasioned by the death of their comrade were still fresh 
in their minds, and each expected to pay this last duty 
to his remaining companions in misfortune, or to receive 
it from them, when) on the 15th of August 1749, a Rus- 
sian ship unexpectedly appeared in sight. 

The vessel belonged to a trader, who had come with 
it to Archangel, intending that it should winter in Nova 
Zembla, but, fortunately for our poor exiles, the director 
of the whale-fishery proposed to the merchant to let 
his vessel winter at West-Spitsbergeh, to which, after 
many objections, he at length agreed. 

The contrary winds they met with on their passage 
made it impossible for them to reach the place of their 
destination. The vessel was driven towards East-Spits- 
bergen, directly opposite to the residence of our mari- 
ners, who, as soon as they perceived her, hastened to 
light fires upon the hills nearest their habitation, and then 
ran to the beach, waving a flag made of rein-deer's skin, 
fastened to a pole. The people on board, perceiving 
these signals, concluded that there were men upon the 
island, who implored their assistance, and therefore 
came to an anchor near the shore. It would be in vain 
to attempt to describe the joy of these poor people, at 
seeing the moment of their deliverance so near. They 
soon agreed with the master of the ship to work for him 
during the voyage, and to pay him eighty rubles on their 
arrival, for taking them on board with all their riches, 
which consisted of fifty pud, or, 2000 pounds weight of 
rein-deer fat ; besides many hides of those animals, skins 
of blue and while foxes, and those of the ten white 
bears they had killed. They took care not to forget 
their bow -and arrows, their spears, their knife, and axe, 
which were almost worn out, their awls and their needles, 
which they carefully kept in a bone box, very ingeniously 
made with their knife only ; and in short every tiling 
they possessed. 

Our adventurers arrived safe at Archangel on the 28th 
of September, 1749, having spent six years and three 
months in their dreary solitude. The moment of their 
tentling was near proving fata! to the loving and beloved 



FOUR RUSSIAN SAILORS. 213 

wife of Alexis Himkoff, wlio being present when the 
vessel canie into port, immediately knew her husband, 
and ran with such eagerness to his embraces, that she 
slipped into the water and very narrowly escaped beiBg 
dro fined. 

All three on their arrival were strong and healthy ; but 
having lived so long without bread, they could not re- 
concile themselves to the use of it, and complained that 
it filled them with wind ; nor could they bear any spiritu- 
ous liquors, and therefore never drank any thing but 
water afterwards. 



LOSS OF THE 



HALSEWELL EAST-INDIAMAN, 

Wrecked off SeacomJie, in the hte of ' Purbeck, on the 
Coast of Dorsetshire January 6th, 1786. 

A HE Halsewell East-Indiaman, of 758 tons 
burthen, Richard Pierce, Esq. commander, having 
been taken up by the Directors to make her third 
voyage to Coast and Bay, fell down to Gravesend the 
16th of November, 17b5, and there completed her 
lading. Having taken the ladies and other passengers 
on board at the Hope, she sailed through the Downs on 
Sunday, January the 1st, 1786, and the next morning, 
being abreast of Dunnose, it fell calm. 

The ship was one of the finest in the service, and 
supposed to be in the most perfect condition for her 
voyage ; and the commander a man of distinguished 
ability and exemplary character. His officers possessed 
unquestioned knowledge in their profession ; the crew, 
composed of the best seamen that could be collected, 
was as numerous as the establishment admits. The 
vessel likewise contained a considerable body of 
soldiers, destined to recruit the forces of the Company 
in Asia. 

The passengers were Miss Eliza Pierce, and Miss 
Mary-Anne Pierce, daughters of the commander : PyIiss 
Amy Paul, and Miss Mary Paul, Daughters of Mr. Paul, 
of Somersetshire, and relations of Captain Pierce ; Miss 
Elizabeth Black bu me, daughter of Captain B. likewise 
in the service of the East-India Company ; Miss Mary 



LOSS OF TEE HALSEWELL. v 215 

Haggard, sister to an officer on the Madras establish-', 
ment; Miss Ann Mansell, a native of Madras, but of 
European parents, who had received her education in 
England ; and John-George Schutz, Esq. returning to 
Asia, where he had long resided, to collect a part of his 
fortune which he had left behind. 

On Monday, the 2d of January, at three P. M. a 
breeze springing up from the south, they ran in shore to 
land the pilot. The weather coming on very thick in 
the evening, and the wind baffling, at nine they were 
obliged to anchor in eighteen fathom water. They furled 
their top sails, but were unable to furl their courses, the 
snow falling thick and freezing as it fell. 

Tuesday, the 3d. at 4 A. M. a violent gale came on 
from E. N. E. and the ship driving, they were obliged 
to cut their cables and run out to sea. At noon they 
spoke with a brig to Dublin, and having put their pilot 
on board of her, bore down channel immediately. At 
eight in the evening the wind freshening, and coming to 
the southward, they reefed such sails as were judged 
necessary. At ten it blew a violent gale at south, and 
they were obliged to carry a press of sail to keep the 
ship oft" the shore. In this situation, the hawse-plugs, 
which, according to a recent improvement, were put 
Inside, were washed in, and the hawse bags washed 
away, in consequence of which they shipped a great 
quantity of water on the gun-deck. 

Upon sounding the well they found that the vessel had 
sprung a leak, and had five feet of water in her hold ; 
thej r clued up the main top-sail, hauled up the main sail, 
and immediately attempted to furl both, but failed in the 
attempt. All the pumps were set to work on the disco- 
very of the leak. 

Wednesday the 4th, at two A. M. they endeavored to 
wear the ship, but without success. The mizenmast 
was instantly cut away, and a second attempt made to 
wear, which succeeded no better than the former. The 
ship having now seven hct water in her hold, and the 
leak gaining fast on the pumps, it was thought expedient 
for the preservation of the ship, which appeared to be 
in immediate danger of foundering:, to cut away the 



£]6 LOSS OF THE HALBEWELL. 

main-mast. In its fall Jonathan Moreton, coxswain, and 
four men, were carried overboard by the wreck and 
drowned. By eight o'clock the wreck was cleared, and 
the ship got before the wind. In this position she was 
kept about two hours, during which the pumps reduced 
the water in the hold two feet. 

At ten in the morning the wind abated considerably, 
and the ship laboring extremely, rolled the forctop-inast 
over on the larboard side, which, in the fall, tore the 
foresail to pieces. At eleven the wind came to the west- 
ward, and the weather clearing up, the Berry -Head was 
distinguished, at the distance of four or five leagues. 
Having erected a jury main mast, and set a top-gallant 
sail, for a main-sail, they bore up for Portsmouth, and 
employed the remainder of the day in getting up a jury 
mizen-mast. 

On Thursday the 5th, at two in the morning the wind 
came to the southward, blew fresh, and the weather was 
very thick. At noon Portland was seen, bearing north 
by east, distant about two or three leagues. At eight at 
night it blew a strong gale at south ; the Portland lights 
Vere seen bearing northwest, distant four or five leagues, 
when they wore ship and got her head to the westward. 
Finding they lost ground on that tack, they wore her 
again, and kept stretching to the eastward, in the hope 
o,f weathering Peverel-Pomt, in which case they intended 
to have anchored in Studland Bay. At eleven they saw 
St. Alban's Head, a mile and a half to the leeward, upon 
which they took in sail immediately, and let go the 
small bower anchor, which brought up the ship at a 
whole cable, and she rode for about an hour, and then 
drove. They now let go the sheet anchor, and wore 
away a whole cable ; the ship rode about two hours longer 
when she drove again, 

In this situation the captain sent for Mr. Henry Meriton, 
the chief officer, and asked his opinion concerning the 
probability of saving their lives. He replied with equal 
candor and calmness, that he apprehended mere was 
very little hopes, as they were then driving fast on shore, 
and might expect every moment to strike. It was agreed 
that the boats could not then he of anv ase, but it was 



LOSS OF THE HALSEWELL. 217 

proposed that the officers should be confidentially request- 
ed, in case an opportunity presented itself, of making 
it serviceable, to reserve the long boat for the ladies 
and themselves, and this precaution was accordingly 
taken. 

About two in the morning of Friday, the 6th, the 
ship still driving, and approaching the shore very fast, 
the same officer again went into the cuddy where the 
captain then was. Captain Pierce expressed extreme 
anxiety for the preservation ©f his beloved daughters, 
and earnestly asked Mr. Meriton, if he could devise any * 
means of saving them. The latter expressed his fears 
that it would be impossible, adding, that their only 
chance would be to wait for the morning, upon which 
the captain lifted up his hands in silent distress. 

At this moment the ship struck with such violence 
as to dash the heads of those who were standing in 
the cuddy against the deck above them, and the fatal 
blow was accompanied by a shriek of horror, which 
burst at the same instant from every quarter of the 
ship. 

The seamen, many of whom had been remarkably 
inattentive and remiss in their duty during great part of 
the storm, and had actually skulked in their hammocks, 
leaving the exertions of the pump, and the other labors 
required by their situation, to the officers, roused to a 
sense of their danger, now poured upon the deck, to 
which the utmost endeavors of their officers could not 
keep them while their assistance might have been use- 
ful. But it was now too late ; the ship continued to 
beat upon the rocks, and soon bulged, falling with her 
broadside towards the shore. When the ship si nick, 
several of the men caught hold of the ensign staff, 
under the apprehension of her going to pieces imme- 
diately. 

At this critical juncture Mr. Meriton offered his un- 
happy companions the best advice that possibly could 
be given. He recommended that they should all repair 
to that side of the ship-wtnch lay lowest on the rocks, and 
take the opportunities that might then present themselves 
of. escaping singly to the shore. He then returned to the 
T 




218 LOSS OF THE HALSEWELL. 

round-house, where all the passengers and most of the 
officers were assembled. The latter were employed in 
affording consolation to the unfortunate ladies, and with 
unparalleled magnanimity, suffering their compassion 
for the amiable companions of their own danger, and 
the dread of almost inevitable destruction. At this mo- 
ment what must have been the feelings of a father — of 
such a father as Captain Pierce ? 

The ship had struck on the rocks near Seacombe, on 
the island of Purbeck, between Peverel-point and St. 
Alban's-Head. On this part of the shore the cliff is of 
immense height, and rises almost perpendicularly. In 
this particular spot the cliff is excavated at the base, 
presenting a cavern ten or twelve yards in depth, and 
equal in breadth to the length of a large ship. The sides 
of the cavern are so nearly upright as to be extremely diffi- 
cult of access, and the bottom of it is strewed with 
sharp and uneven rocks which appear to have been rent 
from above by some convulsion of nature. It was at 
the mouth of this cavern that the unfortunate vessel 
lay stretched almost from side to -side, and presented 
her broadside to the horrid chasm. But, at the time 
the ship struck it was too dark to discover the extent 
of their danger, and the extreme horror of their situa- 
tion. 

The number in the round-house was now increased 
to nearly fifty, by the admission of three black women 
and two soldiers' wives, with the husband of one of the 
latter, though the sailors, who had demanded entrance 
io get a light, had been opposed and kept out by the 
officers. Captain Pierce was seated on a chair, or some 
other moveable, between his two daughters, whom he 
pressed alternately to his affectionate bosom. The 
rest of the melancholy assembly were seated on the 
deck, which was strewed with musical instruments, and 
ihe wreck of furniture, boxes, and packages. 

Here Mr. Meritou, after having lighted several wax 
candles, and all the glass lanthoros he could find, like- 
wise took his seat, intending to wait till day-light, h- the 
hope that it would afford him an opportunity of effect- 
ing his own escape, and also rendering assistance to the 



LOSS OF THE HALSEWELL. £l& 

partners of his danger. But, observing that the ladies 
appeared parched and exhausted, he fetched a basket of 
oranges from some part of the round-house, with which 
he prevailed on some of them to refresh themselves. 

On his return he perceived a considerable alteration 
in the appearance of the ship. The sides were visibly 
giving way, the deck seemed to heave, and he disco- 
vered other evident symptoms that she could not hold 
together much longer. Attempting to go forward to 
look out, he instantly perceived that the ship had separat- 
ed in the middle and that the fore-part had changed its 
position, and lay rather farther out towards the sea. 
In this emergency he determined to seize the 
present moment, as the next might have been charg- 
ed with his fate, and to follow the example of the crew 
and the soldiers^ who w T ere leading the ship in numbers, 
and making their way to a shore, with the horrors of 
which they were yet unacquainted. 

To favor their escape an attempt had been made to 
lay the ensign-staff from the ship's side to the rocks, but 
Without success, for it snapped to pieces before it reach- 
ed them. By the light of a lanthorn, however, Mr. Meri- 
ton, discovered a spar, which appeared to be laid from 
the ship's side to the rocks, and upon which he deter 
mined to attempt his escape. He accordingly lay down 
upon it, and thrust himself forward, but soon found 
that the spar had no communication with the rock. He 
reached the end and then slipped off, receiving a violent 
contusion in his fall. Before he could recover his legs 
he was washed off by the surge, in which he supported 
himself by swimming till the returning wave dashed hi in 
against the back of the cavern. Here he laid hold of 
a small projection of the rock, but was so benumbed 
that he was on the point of quitting it, when a seaman, 
who had already gained a footing, extended his hand and 
assisted him till he could secure himself on a little shelf 
of the rock, from which he clambered still higher till he 
was out of the reach of the surf. 

Mr. Rogers, the third mate, remained with the cap- 
tain and the ladies nearly twenty minutes after Mr. 
Meriton had left the ship. The latter had not long 



220 LOSS OP THE HALSEWELL. 

quitted the round-bouse, before the captain inquired 
what was become of him, when Mr. Rogers replied, that 
he had gone upcn deck to see what could be done. A 
heavy sea soon afterwards broke over the ship, upon 
which the ladies expressed great concern at the appre- 
hension of his loss. Mr. Rogers proposed to go and 
call him, but this they opposed, fearful lest he might 
share the same fate. 

The sea now broke in at the fore part of the ship, 
and reached as far as the main mast. .Captain Pierce 
and Mr. Rogers then went together, with a lamp, to 
the stern gallery, where, after viewing the rocks, the 
captain asked Mr. Rogers if he thought there was any 
possibility of saving the girls. He replied, he feared 
not ; for they could discover nothing but the black sur- 
face of the perpendicular rock, and not the cavern 
which afforded shelter to those who had escaped. They 
then returned to the round-house, wfeere captain Pierce 
again seated himself between his two daughters, strug- 
gling to suppress the parental tear which then started into 
his eye. 

The sea continuing to break in very fast, Mr. Rogers, 
Mr. Schutz, and Mr. M'Manus, a midshipman, with a 
view to attempt their escape, made their way to the 
poop. They had scarcely reached it, when a heavy sea 
breaking over the wreck, the round-house gave way, 
and they heard the ladies shriek at intervals, as if the 
water had reached them ; the noise of the sea at other 
times drowning their voices. 

Mr. Brimer had followed Mr. Rogers to the poop, 
where, on the coming of the fatal sea, they jointly 
seized a hen coop, and the same wave which whelm- 
» d those who remained below in destruction, carried 
him and his companion to the rock, on which they 
were dashed with great violence and miserably bruis- 
ed. 

On this rock were twenty seven men ; but it was low 
water, and being convinced that, upon the flowing of 
the tide, they must all be washed off, many endeavored 
to get to the back or sides of the cavern beyond the reach 
of the returning sea. Excepting Mr. Rogers and Mr. 



LOSS OF THE HALSEWELL. 221 

Brimer, scarcely more than six succeeded in this at- 
tempt. Of the remainder, some experienced the fate 
they sought to avoid, others perished in endeavoring to 
get into the cavern. 

Mr. Rogers and Mr. Brimer, however, having reach- 
ed the cavern, climbed up the rock, on the narrow 
shelves of which they fixed themselves. The former 
got so near to his friend, Mr. Meriton, as to exchange 
congratulations with him ; but between these gentle- 
men there were about twenty men, none of whom 
could stir but at the most imminent hazard of his life. 
When Mr. Rogers reached this station his strength was 
so nearly exhausted, that had the struggle continued 
a few mintes longer he must inevitably have per- 
ished. 

They soon found that though many who had reached 
the rocks below, had perished in attempting to ascend, 
yet that a considerable number of the crew, seamen, 
soldiers, and some of the inferior officers, were in the 
same situation with themselves. What that situation 
was they had still to learn. They had escaped immedi- 
ate death ; but they were yet to encounter a thousand 
hardships for the precarious chance of escape. Some 
part of the ship was still discernible, and they cheered 
themselves, in this dreary situation,, with the hope that 
it would hold together till day break. Amidst their own 
misfortunes the sufferings of the females filled their 
minds with the acutest anguish ; every returning sea 
increased their apprehensions for the safety of their ami* 
able and helpless companions. 

But, alas! too soon were these apprehensions realiz- 
ed. A few minutes after Mr. Rogers had gained the. 
rock, a general shriek, in which the voice of female 
distresses was lamentably distinguishable, announced 
the dreadful catastrophe! In. a f&w moments all was 
bushed, excepting the warring winds and the dashing 
waves. The wreck was whelmed in the bosom of the 
deep, and not an atom of it was ever dicovered. Thus 
perished the Halsewell — and with her, worth, honor, skilly 
beauty, and accomplishments 1 



222 LOSS OF THE HALSEWELL. 

This stroke was a dreadful aggravation of woe to the 
trembling and scarcely half-saved wretches, who were 
clinging about the sides of the horrid cavern. They felt 
for themselves, but they wept for wives, parents, fathers, 
brothers, sisters — perhaps lovers ! — all cut off from their 
dearest, fondest hopes ! 

Their feelings were not less agonized by the subse- 
quent events of that ill-fated night. Many who had 
gained the precarious stations on the rocks, exhausted with 
fatigue, weakened by bruises, and benumbed with cold, 
quitted their holds, and falling headlong, either upon the 
rocks below, or into the surf, perished beneath the feet 
of their wretched associates, and by their dying groans 
and loud exclamations, awakened terrific apprehensions 
of a similar fate in the survivors. 

At length, after three hours of the keenest misery, 
the day broke on them, but, far from bringing with it 
;he expected relief, it served only to discover to them 
all the horrors of their situation. They were convinced 
diat, had the country been alarmed by the guns of dis- 
tress, which they continued to fire several hours before 
the ship struck, but which, from the violence of the 
storm, were unheard, they could neither be observed 
by the people above, as they were completely ingulph- 
ed in the cavern, and overhung by the cliff; nor was 
any part of the wreck remaining to indicate their prob- 
able place of refuge. Below, n<* boat could live to 
search them out, and had it been possible to acquaint 
Ihose who were willing to assist them with their exact 
situation, they were at a loss to conceive how any ropes 
could be conveyed into the cavern to facilitate their 
escape. 

The only method that afforded any prospect of suc- 
cess was to creep along the side to its outer extremity, 
to turn the corner on a ledge scarcely as broad as a 
man's hand, and to climb up the almost perpendicular 
precipices, nearly two hundred feet in height. In 
this desperate attempt some succeeded, while others, 
trembling with terror, and exhausted with bodily 
and mental fatigue, lost their precarious footing and 
perished. 



L*SS OF TEE HALSEWELL* 223 

The first men who gained the summit of the cliff 
were the cook, and James Thompson, a quarter- master. 
By their individual exertions they reached the top, and 
instantly hastened to the nearest house, to make known 
the situation of their fellow-sufferers. Eastington, the 
habitation of Mr. Garland, steward, or agent, to the 
proprietors of the Purbeck quarries, was the house at 
which they first arrived. That gentleman immediately 
assembled the workmen under his direction, and with 
the most zealous humanity exerted every effort for the 
preservation of the surviving part of the crew of the 
unfortunate ship. 

Mr. Meriton had, by this time, almost reached the 
edge of the precipice. A soldier, who preceded him, 
stood upon a small projecting rock, or stone, and upon 
the same stone Mr. Meriton had fastened his hands to 
assist his progress. Just at thi$ moment the quarrymen 
arrived, and seeing a man so nearly within their reach 
they dropped a rope, of which he immediately laid hold, 
By a vigorous effort to avail himself of the advantage, 
he loosened the stone, which giving way, Mr. Meriton 
must have been precipitated to the bottom, had not a 
rope been lowered to him at the instant, which he seis- 
ed, while in the act of falling, and was safely drawn to the 
3ummit. 

The fate of Mr. Brimer was peculiarly severe. Ke 
had been married only nine days before the ship sailed, 
to the daughter of Captain Norman, of the Royal Navy, 
came on shore, as it has been observed, with Mr. Ro- 
gers, and, like him, got up the side of the cavern. 
Here he remained till the morning, when he crawled" 
out; a rope was thrown him, but he was either so 
benumbed with the cold as to fasten it about him im- 
properly, or so agitated as to neglect to fasten it at all. 
Whatever was the cause, the eFect proved fatal ; at the 
moment of his supposed preservation he fell from hi$ 
stand, and was unfortunately dashed to pieces, in sight 
of those who could only lament the deplorable fate of 
an amiable man and skilful officer. 

The method of affording help was remarkable, and 
does honor to the humanity and intrepidity of the quaj- 



224 LOSS OP THE HALSEWELL. 

rymen. The distance from the top of the rock to the 
cavern, over which it projected, was at least one hun- 
dred feet: ten of these formed a declivity to the edge, 
and the remainder was perpendicular. On the very 
brink of this precipice stood too daring fellows, with 
a rope tied round them, and fastened above to a strong 
iron bar fixed into the ground. Behind these, in like 
manner, stood others, two and two. A strong rope, like- 
wise properly secured, passed between them, by which 
they might hold, and support themselves from falling. 
Another rope, with a noose ready fixed, was then let 
down below the cavern, and the wind blowing hard, 
it was sometimes forced under the projecting rock, so 
that the sufferers could reach it without crawling to the 
edge. Whoever laid hold of it put the nose round his 
waist, and was drawn up with the utmost care and cau- 
4ion by their intrepid deliverers. 

In this attempt, however, many shared the fate of 
the unfortunate Mr. Brimer. Unable, through cold, 
perturbation of mind, weakness, or the inconvenience 
of the stations they occupied, to avail themselves of 
the succor that was offered them, they were precipitat- 
ed from the stupendous cliff, and either dashed to pie- 
ces on the rocks, or falling into the surge, perished in 
the waves. 

Among these unhappy sufferers the death of a drum- 
mer was attended with circumstances of peculiar dis- 
tress. Being either washed off the rocks by the sea, 
or falling into the surf, he was carried by the returning 
waves beyond the breakers. His utmost efforts to re- 
gain thern were ineffectual, he was drawn farther out to 
sea, and being a remarkable good swimmer, continued 
to struggle with the waves, in the view of his commiserat- 
ing companions, till his strength was exhausted, and he 
sunk, — to rise no more ! 

It was late in the day when all the survivors were car- 
ried to a place of safety, excepting William Trenton, 
a soldier, who remained on his perilous stand till the 
morning of Saturday, the 7th, exposed to the united 
horrors of extreme personal danger, and the most acute 
uisquietude of mind. 



LOSS OF THE HALSEWELL, 225 

SThe surviving officers, seamen, and soldiers, being 
assembled at the house of their benevolent deliverer, 
Mr. Garland, they were mustered, and found to amount 
to 74, out of rather more than 240, which was nearly 
the number of the crew, and passengers, when she sail- 
ed through the Downs. Of -the rest it is supposed that 
fifty or more sunk with the Captain and the ladies in , 
the round house, and that upwards of seventy reached 
the rocks, but were washed off, or perished, in fall- 
ing from the cliffs. All those who reached the summit 
survived, excepting two or three, who expired while being 
drawn up, and a black, who died a few hours after he was 
brought to the house. Many, however, were so misera- 
bly bruised, that their lives were doubtful, and it was a 
considerable time before they perfectly recovered their 
strength. 

The benevolence and generosity of the master of the 
Crown Inn, at Blanford, deserves the highest praise. 
When the distressed seamen arrived at that town he 
sent for them all to his house, and having given them the 
refreshment of a comfortable dinner, he presented each 
man with half a crown to help him on his journey, 



.226 



•OSS OP THS 

NOTTINGHAM GALLEY, OF LONDON; 

Wrecked on Boon Island, near New-Englan», 
Dec. 12 th, 1710; 

And the Sufferings, Preservation, and Deliverance, 
of the Crew, 

By Captain John Dean. 

JL HE Nottingham Galley, of and from London, 
of 120 tons, ten guns, fourteen men, John Dean, com- 
mander, having taken in cordage in England, and butter, 
cheese, &lc. in Ireland, sailed for Boston in New-Engr 
land, the 25th of September, 1710. Meeting with con- 
trary winds and bad weather, it was the beginning of 
December when we first made land to the eastward of 
Piscataqua, and proceeding southward for the bay of 
Massachusetts, under a hard gale of wind at northeast, 
accompanied with rain, hail, and snow, having no ob- 
servation for ten or twelve days, we, on the 11th, hand- 
ed all our sails, excepting our fore-sail and maintop sail 
double reefed, ordering one hand forward to look out. 
Between eight and nine o'clock, going forward myself, I 
saw the breakers ahead, whereupon I called out to put 
the helm hard to starboard, but before the ship could 
wear, we struck upon the east end of the rock, called 
Boon-Island, four leagues to the eastward of Pis- 
cataqua, 



LOSS OP THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY* £2?- 

The second or third sea heaved the ship alongside of 
it ; running likewise so very high, and the ship laboring 
so excessively, that we were not able to stand upon 
deck ; and though it was not distant above thirty or for- 
ty yards, yet the weather was so thick and dark, that 
we could not see the rock, so that w r e were justly thrown 
into consternation at the melancholy prospect of immedi- 
ately perishing in the sea I presently called all hands 
down to the cabin, where we continued a few minutes, 
earnestly supplicating the mercy of heaven ; but know- 
ing that prayers, without, are vain, I ordered all up 
again to cut the masts by the board, but several were so 
oppressed by the terrors of conscience that they were 
incapable of any exertion. We, however, went upon 
deck, cut the weathermost shrouds, and the ship heeling 
towards the rocks, the force of the sea soon broke the 
masts, so that they fell right towards the shore. 

One of the men went out on the bowsprit, and return- 
ing, told me he saw something black ahead; and would 
venture to get on shore, accompanied with any other 
^person : upon which I desired some of the best swim- 
mers (my mate and one more) to go with him, and if 
they gained the rock, to give notice by their calls, and 
direct us to the most secure place. Recollecting some 
money and papers that might be of use, also ammuni- 
tion, brandy, &lc. I then went down and opened the 
place in which they were ; but the ship bulging, her 
decks opened, her back broke, and her beams gave 
way, so that the stern sunk under water. I was, there- 
fore, hastened forward to escape instant death, and hav- 
ing heard nothing of the men who had gone before, con- 
cluded them lost. Notwithstanding I was under the 
necessity of making the same adventure upon the fore- 
mast, moving gradually forward betwixt every sea, till 
at last quitting it, I thtew myself with all the strength 
I had, towards the rock ; but it being low water, and the 
rock extremely slippery, I could get no hold, and tore 
my fingers, hands, and arms, in the most deplorable 
manner, -every wash of the sea fetching me off again, so 
that it was with the utmost peril and difficulty that I got 
safe on shore at last. The^rest of the mec ran tbe saxs$$ 






228 LOSS OP THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY. 

hazards, but through the mercy of Providence we all 
escaped with our lives. 

After endeavoring to discharge the salt water and 
creeping a little way up the rock, I heard the voices of 
the three men above mentioned, and by ten o'clock we 
all met together, when, with grateful hearts, we return- 
ed humble thanks to Providence for our deliverance from 
such imminent danger. We then endeavored to gain 
shelter to the leeward of the rock, but found it so small 
and inconsiderable, that it would afford none, (being 
but about one hundred yards long and fifty broad,) and 
so very craggy that we could not walk to keep ourselves 
warm, the weather still continuing extremely cold, with 
snow and rain. 

As soon as day-light appeared I went towards the place 
where We came on shore, not doubting but that we 
should meet with provisions enough from the wreck 
for our support, but found only some pieces of the 
masts and yards among some old junk and cables con- 
gered together, which the anchors had prevented from 
being carried away, and kept moving about the rock at 
some distance. Part of the ship's stores, with some 
pieces of plank and timber, old sails, canvas, &c. drove 
on shore, but nothing eatable, excepting some small 
pieces of cheese which we picked up among the rock- 
weed, in the whole to the quantity of three small 
cheeses. 

We used our utmost endeavors to get fire, having 
a steel and flint with us, and also by a drill, with a 
very swift motion ; but having nothing but what had 
long been water-soaked, all our attemps proved in- 
effectual. 

At night we stowed one upon another, under our 
canvas, in the best manner possible, to keep each other 
warm. 'The next day the weather clearing a little, and 
inclining to frost, I went out, and perceiving the main 
land, I knew where we were, and encouraged my men 
with the hope of being discovered by fishing shallops, 
desiring them to search for and bring up what planks, 
carpenter's tools, and stores they could find, in order to 
build a tent and a boat. The cook then complained that 



LOSS OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY. 229 

Ir-e was almost starved, and his countenance discovering 
his illness, I ordered him to remain behind with two or 
three more whom the frost had seized. About noon the 
men acquainted me that lie was dead ; we therefore laid 
him in a convenient place for the sea to carry him away. 
None mentioned eating him, though several, with 
myself, afterwards acknowledged that they had thoughts 
of it. 

Alter we had been in this situation two or three days s 
the frost being very severe, and the weather extremely 
cold, it seized most of our hands and feet to such a 
degree as to take away the sense of feeling, and render 
them almost useless ; so benumbing and discoloring 
them as gave us just reason to apprehend mortification. 
"We pulled off our shoes, and cut off our boots ; but in 
getting off our stockings, many, whose legs were blis- 
tered, pulled off skin and all, and some, the nails of their 
toes. We then wrapped up our legs and feet as warmly 
as we could in oakum and canvas. 

We now began to build our tent in a triangular form, 
each side being about eight feet, covered it with the old 
sails and canvas that came on shore, having just room 
for each to lie down on one side, so that none could turn, 
excepting all turned, which was ahout every two hours, 
upon notice given. We also fixed a staff to the top of 
our tent, upon which, as often as the weather would 
permit, we hoisted a piece of cloth in the form of a flag, 
in order to discover ourselves to any vessel that might 
approach. 

We then commenced the building of our boat with 
planks and timber belonging to the wreck. Our only 
tools were the blade of a cutlass, made mto a saw with 
our knives, a hammer, and a caulking mallet. We 
found some nails in the clefts of the rock, and obtained 
others from the sheathing. We laid three planks flat 
for the bottom, aud two up each side, fixed to staunch- 
ings and let i»to the bottom timbers, with two short 
pieces at each end, and one breadth of new Holland 
duck round the sides to keep out the spray of the sea. 
We caulked all we could with oakum drawn from the o\d 
junk, and in other places filled up the distances with 
U 



£30 LOSS OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLS?. 

long pieces of canvas, all of which we secured in the 
best manner possible. We found also some sheet-lead 
and pump-leather, which proved of use. We fixed a 
short mast and square sail, with seven paddles to row, 
and another longer to steer. But our carpenter, whose 
services were now most wanted, was, by reason of 
illness, scarcely capable of affording us either assistance 
or advice ; and all the rest, excepting myself and two 
more, were so benumbed and feeble as to be unable to 
stir. The weather, too, was so extremely cold, that we 
could seldom stay out of the tent above four hours in 
the day, and some days we could do nothing at all. 

When we had been upon the rock about a week, with- 
out any kind of provisions, excepting the cheese above- 
mentioned, and some beef bones, which we eat, after 
beating them to pieces, we saw three boats, about five 
leagues from us, which, as may easily be imagined, 
rejoiced us not a little, believing that the period of our 
deliverance had arrived. I directed all the men to 
creep out of ihe tent and halloo together, as loud as 
their strength would permit. We likewise made all the 
signals we could, but in vain, for they neither heard nor 
saw us. We, however, received no small encourage- 
ment from the sight of them, as they came from the 
southwest ; and the wind being at northeast when we 
were cast away, we had reason to suppose that our dis- 
tress might have been made known by the wreck driv- 
ing on shore, and to presume that they were come out 
in search of us, and would daily do so when the weath- 
er should permit. Thus we flattered ourselves with the 
pleasing but delusive hope of deliverance. (g \ 

Just before we had finished our boat, the carpenters 
axe was cast upon the rock, by which we were enabled 
to complete our work, but then we had scarcely strength 
sufficient to get her into the water. 

About the 21-st of December, the boat being finished, 
the day fine, and the water smoother than I had yet 
seen it since we came there, we consulted who should 
attempt to launch her, 1 offered myself as one to ven- 
ture in her ; this was agreed to, as I was the strongest, 
and therefore the fittest to undergo the extremities to 



LOSS OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY. 2.8.1 

which we might possibly be reduced. My mate also 
offered himself, and desiring to accompany me, I was 
permitted to take him, together with my brother and 
four more. Thus commending our enterprize to Provi- 
dence, all that were able came out, and with much diffi- 
culty got our poor patched-up boat to the water-side. 
The surf running very high, we were obliged to wade 
very deep to launch her, upon which I and another got 
into her. The swell of the sea heaved her along shore-; 
and overset her opon us, whereby we again narrowly 
escaped drowning. Our poor boat was staved all to 
pieces, our enterprize totally disappointed, and our 
hopes utterly destroyed. 

What heightened our afflictions, and served to aggra- 
vate our miserable prospects, and render our deliverance 
less practicable, we lost, with our boat, both our axe 
and hammer, which would have been of great use to Us 
if we should afterwards have attempted to construct a 
raft. Yet we had reason to admire the goodness of God 
in producing our disappointment for our safety ; for, 
that afternoon, the wind springing up, it blew so hard, 
that, had we been at sea in that imitation of a boat, 
we must, in all probability, have perished,' and those 
left behind, being unable to help themselves, must doubt- 
less soon have shared a similar fate. 

We were now reduced to the most melancholy and 
deplorable situation imaginable ; almost every man but 
myself was weak to an extremity, neatly starved with 
hunger and perishing with cold ; their hands and fectr 
frozen and mortified ; large and deep ulcers in their legs, 
the smell of which was highly offensive to those who 
could not creep into the air, and nothing to dress them 
with but a piece of linen that was cast on shore. We 
had no fire ; our small stock of cheese was exhausted, 
and we had nothing to support our feeble bodies but 
rock- weed and a few muscles, scarce and difficult to be 
procured, at most not above two or three for eaeh man 
a day : so that our miserable bodies were perishing, and 
our disconsolate spirits overpowered by the deplorable 
prospect of starving, without any appearance of relief. 
To aggravate our situation, if possible, we had reason 



332 LOSS OF THE NOTTlNSHAxM GALLE7. 

to apprehend, lest the approaching spring tide, if accom- 
panied with high winds, should entirely overflow us. 
The horrors of such a situation it is impossible to des- 
cribe ; the pinching cold and hunger ; extremity of 
weakness and pain ; racking and horrors of conscience 
In many; and the prospect of a certain, painful, and 
fingering death, without even the most remote views of 
deliverance ! This is, indeed, the height of misery ; 
yet such, alas! was our deplorable case: insomuch that 
(he greater part of our company were ready to die of 
horror and despair. 

For my part, I did my utmost to encourage myself, 
exhort the rest, to trust in God, and patiently await 
their deliverance. As a slight alleviation of onr faith, 
Providence directed towards our quarters a sea gull, 
which my mate struck down and joyfully brought to me. 
I divitted it into equal portions, and though raw, and 
scarcely affording a mouthful for each, yet we received 
and eat it thankfully. 

The last method of rescuing ourselves we could posi- 
bly devise was to construct a raft capable of carrying 
two men. This proposal was strongly supported by a 
Swede, one of our men, a stout brave fellow, who, since 
our disaster, had lost the use of both his feet by the 
frost. He frequently importuned me to attempt our de- 
liverance in that way, offering himself to accompany 
me, or, if I refused, to go alone. After deliberate con- 
sideration we resolved upon a raft, but found great diffi- 
culty in clearing the fore-yard, of which it was chiefly 
to be made, from the junk, as our working hands were 
so few and weak. 

This done, we split the yard, and with the two parts 
nvule side pieces, fixing others, and adding some of 
the lightest planks we could find, first spiking, and after- 
wards making them firm. The raft was four feet in 
breadth. We fixed up a mast, and out of two ham- 
mocks that were driven on shore, we made a sail, with 
a paddle for each man, and a spare one in case of neces- 
sity. This difficulty being thus surmounted, the 
Swede frequently asked me whether I designed to ac- 
company him, giving me to understand, that if I declin- 



► LOSS OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY. 235 

e"d, tliere was another ready to offer himself for the en 
terprise. 

About this time we saw^t sail come out of Piscata- 
qua river, about seven leagues- to the westward. We 
again made all the signals we could but the wind being 
northwest, and the ship standing to the eastward, she 
was presently out of sight, without ever coming near us, 
which proved an extreme mortification to our hopes. 
The next day, being moderate, with a small breeze 
right on shore in the afternoon, and the raft being wholly 
finished, the two men were very anxious to have it 
launched ; but this was as strenuously opposed by the 
mate, because it was so late, being two in the afternoon. 
They, however, urged the lightness of the nights, beg- 
ged me to suffer them to proceed, and I at length con- 
sented. They both got upon the raft, when the swell, 
soiling very high, soon overset them, as it did our boat. 
. The Swede not daunted by this accident, swam on shore, 
but the other, being no swimmer, continued some time 
under water ; as soon as lie appeared, I caught hold of 
and saved him, but he was so discouraged that he was 
.afraid to make a second attempt. I desired the Swede 
• to wait a more favorable opportunity, but he continued 
resolute, begged me to go with him, or help him to turn 
the raft, and he would go alone. 

By this time another man came down and offered to 
adventure ; when they were upon the raft, I launched 
J hem off, they desiring us to go to prayers, and also to 
watch what became of them. I did so, and by sunset 
judged them half way to the main, and supposed that 
they might reach the shore by two in the morning. 
They, however, probably fell in with some breakers, or 
were overset by the violence of the sea and perished ; 
for, two days afterwards, the raft was found on shore, 
and one man dead about a mile from it, with a paddle 
fastened to his wrist; but the Swede, who was so very 
forward to adventure, was never heard of more. 

We, who were left upon the desolate island, ignorant 
of what had befallen them, waited daily for deliverance. 
Our expectations were the more raised by a smoke we 
observed, two days afterwards in the woods, which was 



233i LOSS OF TH2 NOTTINGHAM GALLEY, • 

Ihe signal appointed to be mnde if they arrived safe. 
This continued every day, and we were willing to believe 
that it was made on our account, though we saw no 
appearanee of any thing towards our relief. We sup- 
posed that the delay was occasioned by their not being 
able to procure a vessel so soon as we desired, and this 
idea served to bear up our spirits and to support us 
greatly. 

Still our principal want wasjthat of provision, having 
nothing to eat but rock weed, and a very few muscles ; 
indeed, when the spring tide was over, we could scarcely 
get any at all. I have myself gone, as no other person 
was able, several days at low water, and could find no 
more than two or three apiece. I was frequently in 
danger of losing my hands and arms, by putting them 
so often into the water after the muscles, and when ob- 
tained, my stomach refused them, and preferred rock- 
weed. 

Upon our first arrival we saw several seals upon the 
rock, and supposing they might harbor there in the night, 
I walked round at midnight, but could never meet with 
any thing. We saw likewise, a great number of birds, 
which perceiving us daily there, would never lodge upon 
the rock, so that we caught none. 

This disappointment was severe, and tended to aggra- 
vate our miseries still more; but it was particularly 
afflicting to a brother I had with me, and another young 
gentleman, neither of whom had before been at sea, or 
endured any kind of hardship. They were now reduced 
to the last extremity, having no assistance but what they 
received from me. 

Part of a green hide, fastened to a piece of the main- 
yard, being thrown up by the sea, the men importuned 
me to bring it to the tent, which being done, we minced 
it small and swallowed it. 

About this time I set the men to open junk, and when 
the weather would permit I thatched the tent with the 
rope yarn in the best manner I was able, that it might 
shelter us the better from the extremities of the weather. 
This proved of so much service as to turn two or three 
hours rain, and preserve us from the cokl pinching winch, 
which were always very severe upon us. 



LOSS OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEV, 23§ 

About the latter end of December our carpenter, a fat 
man, and naturally of a dull, heavy, phlegmatic disposi- 
tion, aged about forty-seven, who, from our fU*st corning 
on shore, had been constantly very ill, and lost the use 
of his feet, complained of excessive pain in his back, 
and stiffness in his neck. He was likewise almost chok- 
ed with phlegm, for want of strength to discharge it, and 
appeared to draw near his end. We prayed over him, 
and used our utmost endeavors to be serviceable to 
him in his last moments'; he shewed himself sensible, 
though speechless, and died that night. We suffered 
the body to remain till morning, when I desired those 
who were most able, to remove it; creeping out myself 
to see whether providence had sent us any thing to sa- 
tisfy the excessive cravings of our appetites. Returning 
before noon, and not seeing the dead body without the 
tent, I inquired why they had not removed it, and re- 
ceived for answer, they were not all of them able ; . upon 
which, fastening a rope to the body, I gave the utmost of 
my assistance, and with some difficulty we dragged it 
out of the tent. But fatigue, and the consideration of 
our misery, so overcame my spirits, that being ready io 
faint, I crept into the tent, and was no sooner there., 
than, to add to my trouble, the men began to request 
my permission to eat the dead body, the better to sup- 
port their lives. 

This circumstance was, of all the trials I had encoun- 
tered, the most grievous and shocking :— to see myself 
and company, who came hither laden with provisions 
but three, weeks before, now reduced io such a deplora- 
ble situation ; two of us having been absolutely starved 
to death, while, ignorant of the fate of two others, the 
rest, though still living, were reduced to the last 
extremity, and requiring to eat the dead for their 
support. 

After mature consideration of the lawfulness or sinful- 
ness, on the one hand, and absolute necessity on the 
other, judgment and conscience were obliged to submit 
to the more prevailing arguments of our craving appe- 
tites. , We, at length, determined to satisfy our hunger, 
and support our feeble bodies with the carcase of otfr 



236 LOSS OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY. 

deceased companion. I first ordered his skin, bead, 
Jiands, feet, and bowels, to be buried in the sea, an«^ 
the body to be quartered, for the convenience of drying 
and carriage, but again received for answer, that none of 
them being able, they intreated I would perform that 
labor for them. This was a hard task ; but their inces- 
sant prayers and intreaties at last pe vailed over my 
reluctance, and by night I had completed the opera- 
tion. 

I cot part of the flesh into thin slices, and washing it 
in salt water, brought it to the tent and obliged the men 
to eat rock-weed with it instead of bread. My mate and 
two others refused to eat any that night, but the next 
morning they complied, and earnestly desired to partake 
with the rest. 

I found that they all eat with the utmost avidity, so 
that I was obliged to carry the quarters farther from the 
tent, out of their reach, lest they should do themselves 
an injury by eating too much, and likewise expend bur 
small stock too soon. 

1 also limited each man to an equal portion, that they 
might not quarrel or have cause to reflect on me or one 
auother. This method I was the more obliged to 
adopt, because, in a few days, I found their dispositions 
entirely changed, and that affectionate, peaceable tem- 
per they had hitherto manifested, totally lost. Their 
eyes looked wild and staring, their countenances fierce 
and barbarous. Instead of obeying my commands, as 
they had universally and cheerfully done before, I now 
found even prayers and intreaties vain and fruitless ; 
nothing was now to be heard but brutal quarrels, with 
horrid oaths and imprecations, instead of that quiet sub- 
missive spirit of prayer and supplioalk%,they had before 
manifested. . ^L 

This, together with the dismal prospect of future 
want, obliged me to keep a strict watch ov^|r the rest of 
the body, lest any of them, if able, shoul&get to it, 
and if that were spent we should be coinpelled to 
feed upon the living, which we certainly Sjf have 
done, had we remained in that situation a Iw days 
longer, ^jL ^^ 



LOSS OF TftE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY. 2S7 

The goodness of God now began to appear, and to 
make provision for our deliverance, by putting it into 
the hearts of the good people on the shore, to which 
oar raft was driven, to come out in search of us, which 
they did on the 2d of January in the morning. 

Just as I was creeping out of the tent I saw a shallop 
half way from the shore, standing directly towards us. 
Our joy and satisfaction, at the prospect of such speedy 
and unexpected deliverance, no tongue is able to express, 
nor thought to conceive. 

Our good and welcome friends came to an anchor fo 
the southwest, at the distance of about one hundred 
yards, the sweil preventing them from approaching 
nearer ; but their anehor coining home obliged them to 
stand off till about noon, waiting for smoother water 
upon the flood. Meanwhile our passions were differ- 
ently agitated ; our expectations of deliverance, and 
fears of miscarriage, hurried our weak and disordered 
spirits strangely. 

I gave them an account of all our miseries, excepting 
the want of provisions, which I did not mention, lest the 
fear of being constrained by the weather to remain with 
us, might have prevented them from coming on shore. 
I earnestly intreated them to attempt our immediate de- 
liverance, or at least to furnish us if possible, with fire, 
which, with the utmost hazard and difficulty they at last 
accomplished, by sending a small canoe, with one man, 
who, after great exertion, got on shore. 

After helping him up with his canoe, and seeing 
nothing to eat, I asked him if he could give us fire : — he 
answered in the affirmative, but was so affrighted by my 
thin and meagre appearance that, at first, he could 
scarcely return me an answer. However, recollecting 
himself, after seveeal questions asked on both sides, he 
went with me to the tent, where he was surprised to see 
so many of us in such a deplorable condition. Our flesh 
was so wasted, and our looks were so ghastly and fright- 
ful, that it was really a very dismal spectacle. 

With some difficulty we made a fire, after which, 
determining to go on board myself with the man, and 
to send for the rest/ one or two at a time, we both got 



238 .LOSS OP THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY. 

into the canoe ; but the sea immediately drove us 
against the rock with such violence that we were over- 
set, and being very weak, it was a considerable time 
before I could recover myself, so that I had again a 
very narrow escape from drowning. The good man* 
with great difficulty got on board without me, designing 
to return the next day with better conveniences, if (lie 
weather should permit. 

It was an afflicting sight to observe our friends in the 
shallop, standing away for the shore withQut us. But 
God, who orders every thing for the best, doubtless had 
designs of preservation in denying us the appearance of 
present deliverance : for the wind coming about to south- 
cast, it blew so hard that the shallop was lost, and the 
crew, with extreme difficulty, saved their lives. Had 
we been with them it is more than probable that we 
should ali have perished, not having strength sufficient 
to help ourselves. 

When they had reached the shore they immediately 
sent an express to Portsmouth, in Piscataqua, wl^re 
the good people made no delay in hastening to our deliv- 
erance as soon as the weather would allow. To our 
great sorrow, and as a farther trial of our patience, the 
next day continued very stormy, and though we doubted 
not but the people on shore knew our condition, and 
would assist us as soon as possible, yet our flesh being 
nearly consumed, being without fresh water, and uncer- 
tain how long the unfavorable weather might continue, 
our situation was extremely miserable. We, however, 
received great benefit from our fire, as we could both 
warm ourselves and broil our meat. 

The next day, the men being very importunate for 
Mesh, I gave them rather more than usual, but not to 
their satisfaction. They would certainly have eaten up 
the whole at once, had I not carefully watched them, 
with the intention of sharing the rest next morning, if 
the weather continued bad. The wind, however, abat- 
ed that night, and early next morning a shallop came for 
us, with my much esteemed friends Captain Long and 
Captain Purver, and three more men, who brought a 
large canoe, and in two hours got us all on beard, being 



L0S3 OF THE NOTTINGHAM GALLEY. 239 

obliged to carry almost all of us upon their backs from 
the tent to the canoe, and fetch us off by two or three 
at a time. 

When we first came on board the shallop, each of us 
eat a"piece of bread, and drank a dram of rum, and most 
of us were extremely sea-sick : but after we had cleansed 
our stomachs and tasted warm nourishing food we be- 
came so exceeding hungry and ravenous, that had not 
our friends dieted us, and limited the quantity for two or 
three days, we should certainly have destroyed ourselves 
with eating. 

Two days after our coming on shore my apprentice 
lost the greater part of one foot; all the rest recovered 
their limbs, hut not their perfect use ; very few, except- 
ing myself, escaping without losing the benefit of fingers 
or toes, though otherwise all in perfect health. 



240 



NARRATIVE OF 



THE SHIPWRECK OF M. DE BRISSON. 

On tm Coast of Barbary, and of his Captivity a?nong 
the Moors. 



Written by himself. 



Ih 



LAVING made several voyages to Africa, I re- 
ceived an order in June, 1785, from the Marshal de Cas- 
tries, then minister and secretary of state for the marine 
department to embark for the island of St. Louis, in the 
Senegal, in the St. Catharine, commanded by M, Le 
Turc. On the 10th of July we passed between the 
Canary isle and that of Palma, and the Captain having 
rejected my advice relative to the caution necessary to 
be observed in those seas, the ship soon afterwards 
struck upon shoals. 

A dreadful confusion ensued. The masts being loos- 
ened by the shock, quiverd over our heads, and the 
sails were torn in a thousand pieces. The terror became 
general ; the cries of the sailors, mixed with the terrible 
roaring of the sea, irritated, as it were, by the interrup- 
tion of its course between the rocks and the vessel, 
added to the horror of the scene. In this dangerous 
state, such was the consternation of the crew, that no 
one thought of saving himself. " O my wife !" cried 
one : " my dear children !" exclaimed a second ; 
while others, extending their hands towards heaven, 
implored the divine protection. In the hope of saving 
the ship, the masts were cot away, but our exertions 



THE SHIPWRECK, &C. 241 

were of no avail, the hold being already filled with 
water. 

We must inevitably have been lost, had not Mr. Yaa, 
one of the lieutenants; Mr. Suret, a passenger; three 
English sailors, and a few others, encouiaged by my 
example, assisted me to haul out the shallop, and to 
prevent it afterwards from being sunk or dashed to pieces 
against the sides of the ship. We were obliged to strug- 
gle the whole night against tbefury of the sea, that when 
the day appeared we might be able to avoid the rocks, 
by which we were surrounded on all sides, and get, if 
possible, onshore. 

We had scarcely made two strokes with our oars 
when they were swept from the hands of the rowers by 
the violence of the waves ; the shallop was overset; we 
were separated in an instant, and a'!, excepting Mr. De- 
voise, brother to the Consul at Tripoli, cast upon a sand 
bank; I, however, immediately threw myself into the 
water, and was fortunate enough to save him from dis- 
truction. 

Our unfortunate companions, who had remained on 
board, now^aw themselves deprived of every assistance 
from us ; but I scon revived their hopes, by plunging 
into the waves, accompanied by Mr. Yan, whose zeal 
and activity seconded my efforts. He prevailed upon 
the rest to join us in our endeavors to get <the shallop 
afloat again, which we accomplished With great difficul- 
ty ; but we found ourselves amply repaid for our labor 
when we set the rest of the crew on shore. We, how- 
ever, escaped this first danger -only to become the vic- 
tims of a second, still more terrible. 

When the wretched crew had reached the shore, I 
persuaded them to climb the surrounding rocks, on the 
summit of which we discovered an extensive plain, ter- 
minated by some small hills, covered with a kind of 
wild fern. On these hills we saw some children collect- 
ing a flock of goats. As soon as they beheld strangers, 
they set up such outcries as instantly alarmed and 
brought together the neighboring inhabitants. These, 
after viewing the crew, began to dance and caper, at the 
same time uttering the most horrid cries and veils 
W 



£42 THE SHIPWRECK OF 

When these savages came up, some of my compa- 
rison?, among whom were the first and second lieuten- 
ants, separated from us. They were immediately sur- 
rounded and seized by the collar, and it was then that, 
by the reflection of the sun's rays frpm the polished 
blades of their poignarde, we first discovered them to 
be armed. As I nad not perceived this before, I had 
advanced without any fear. 

Our two unfortunate companions having disappeared, 
co uld not make the men stop even for a short time. 
Fear got such possession of their hearts, that, giving 
vent to cries of despair, they all fled different ways. 
The Arabs,' armed with cutlasses and large clubs, fell 
upon them with incredible fury, and I had the mortifica- 
tion of soon seeing some of them wounded, while otheps, 
stripped naked, lay extended and expiring on the 
sand. 

I was so unfortunate as to obtain a promise of goodwill 
from an unarmed Arab, who afterwards proved to t>e a 
talbe, or priest, by giving jiirn two watches, a gold stock- 
buckle, two pair of sleeve bnttons, a ring set with dia- 
monds, a silver goblet, and two hundred and twenty 
livres in specie. The latter article afforded him most 
pleasure. 

The news of our shipwreck being spread through the 
country, we saw the savages running in great haste from 
all quarters ; their numbers naturally increased the jeal 
ousy of the others, so that they soon came to blows, 
and several lives were lost in the contest. The women, 
enraged that they could not pillage the ship, fell upon 
and tore from us the few articles of dress we had left 
but , their attention was principally attracted by mine, 
which seemed to be more worthy of their notice. 

My master, who was by no means of a warlike dis- 
position, perceiving that the number of Arabs increased 
^very moment, called aside two of his friends, whom he 
cunningly admitted as partners with him in the property 
of twelve of the crew who had surrendered themselves 
to him. After making his arrangements he retired from 
the crowd, that he might shelter us from insult. The 
tdace which he chose for that purpose was a wretched 



M. UE BM8S0BT? , :-i. 

kui, covered with moss, at the distance of more than a 
league from the sea ; here we lodged, or rather were 
heaped one upon the other. 

Our patron's first care was to pay us a visit, and to 
search us, lest we should have concealed some of our 
property. Unluckily for them my companions had pre- 
served nothing, on which account he was in a very ill 
humor, and shewed them no iam-cy. He took from 
them even their shirts and hankerchiefs, intimating, that 
if he did not do them that favor, others would. He like- 
wise attempted to pay me the same compliment, but 
upon my observing that I had already given him enough, 
1 experienced no farther molestation. 

Being as yet ignorant among what tribe we had fallen, 
I addressed myself to our master Xor information ; and 
partly by words, and partly by signs, I put the following 
question to him : " What is thy name, and that of thy 
tribe; and why didst thou fly from those crowds who 
sdranced towards the shores of the sea ?" He replied, 
" My name is Sidy Mobarnmed, _<jf Zow&e; my tribe is 
that of Lebdesseba, and I fled from the Ouadelims, be- 
cause We are not on good terms with one another." J 
was much affected to find that we had fallen into the 
hands of the most ferocious people who inhabit the de- 
serts of Africa. 

While the talbe repaired to the shore for more plunder, 
a company of Ouadelims discovered and pillaged our 
retreat, and beat us most unmercifully. I was almost at 
the last gasp, when one of the associates of the talbe 
came and rescued me, and before a large assembly, after- 
wards claimed me, as the reward of his valor. The 
priest made the strongest objections to this claim, 
threatening to chastise the claimant, who replied to the 
talbe : " Since tins is thy pretension, as' he cannot be 
mine, he shall perish by my hand." He had scarcely 
pronounced these words, when he drew his poignard to 
stab me. I trembled under the threatening dagger of 
this barbarian ; but my master, without losing a moment, 
threw over me a kind of chaplet, formed of a Ion£ 
piece of cord, upon which, are strung a great number ol! 
small black balls, and then took in his hand a smaU 



244 THE SHIPWRECK OP 

book which hung in his girdle. The Women, at the 
some instant, rushed towards me, snatched me from the 
hands of the claimant, and delivered me into those of 
the enraged priest, dreading lest he should thunder forth 
an anathema against his antagonist. 

When I had recovered a little tranquility, and began 
to reflect upon the danger I had escaped, I was so much 
affected that I could not refrain from tears. I endeavor- 
ed to conceal from every eye this testimony of my sen- 
sibility and grief; but being observed by some of the 
women, instead of feeling, compassion, they threw sand 
in my eyes, ''to dry my eye lids," as they said. For- 
tunately the obscurity of the night concealed me from 
the sight of these monsters, and saved ms from their 
fury. 

We ha^l now been three days iu a state of slavery^ 
and during that time had taken no nourishment but a 
fittle flour, which, though before spoiled by the sea- 
water, was rendered still more disagreeable by the mix- 
ture of barley meal, which had long been kept in a 
goat's skin ; and bad as this repast was, it was frequently 
interrupted by the alarming outcries which we heard at a 
distance. 

The Arab tribe to whom we were prisoners had repair- 
ed to the sea-coast a few days before our shipwreck, to 
collect the fruits of wild plants for the support of their 
families in the interior of the country ; but upon the ap- 
proach of their enemies, the Ouadelinis, they prepared 
to return home with their provisions and prisoners. 

After passing mountains of prodigious height, coror- 
ed with small, sharp, greyish flirts, we descended into a 
sandy valley, overgrown with sharp thistles. Having 
here slackened our pace, I found that the soles of my 
feet were entirely covered with blood, so that it was im- 
possible for me to proceed any farther. My master 
then made me get up behind him upon his camel ; but 
this attention, on his part, instead of giving me any 
relief, had quite a contrary effect, and exposed me to 
the severest pain. A camel naturally steps very heavily, 
nnd his trot is remarkably hard. Being naked, and una- 
ble to defend mvself from the friction of the animal'* 



M. DE BIIIS-SON.. £4£ 

hair, in a very little time my skin was entirely rabbed 
off. My blood trickled down the animal's sides, and 
instead of exciting pity in these barbarians, this sight 
ajSbrded them a subject of diversion. They made sport 
of my sufferings, and spured on the camels, in order to 
heighten their enjoyment. My wounds would, incon- 
sequence, have been rendered incurable, had I not 
formed the resolution of throwing myseif off and walk- 
ing upon the sand. This I accomplished, and sustained 
no other injury in the fail than that of being dreadful] y 
pricked by the thistles, which covered the whole surface 
of the ground. 

Towards evening, perceiving a thick smoke, I ima- 
* gined that we were approaching some hamlet, where we 
should find something to eat, and, above all, something 
to allay our intolerable thirst ; but I soon perceived that 
there was nothing but a few bushes, in which our guide 
had taken up his lodging. Exhausted with fatigue, I 
retired behind one of them, to wait for the relieving 
Band of death, but had scarcely extended myself on 
the ground when an Arab of our company came and 
Compelled me to get up to unload his camel. This in- 
sult I resented, and foend afterwards, that it produced a 
good effect. 

I observed preparations making which threw me into 
the greatest inquietude. They made flints red hot in a 
large pan, raised a huge stone which lay at the foot of a 
bush, dug up the earth, and frequently repeating my 
name, they all burst into loud fits of laughter. Then 
calling me, they obliged me to approach the hole they 
had dug in the ground, while the man whom I had beat- 
en made different signs with his hand, often drawing it 
backwards and forwards against his throat, as if to give 
me to understand that he would cut it, or that they were 
resolved to serve me in that manner. In spite of my 
ifesolution, and the determination to defend myself, these 
gestures were very alarming ; but my apprehensions 
were converted into surprise, when I saw them take 
from the pit which I- had approached, a goat's skin full 
of water a small leather bag, containing barley meal, 
$nd a goat newly killed. By the sight of these prcv^ 
W2 



24§ THE SHIPWRECK 0? 

sions I was restored to my former tranquility, though I 
was ignorant for what purpose the heated flints were in- 
tended. At length I saw them fill with water a large 
wooden vessel, into which some barley meal had been put, 
and the red hot flints being thrown into the water, served 
to make it boil. They then made a kind of paste, knead- 
ing it afterwards with their hands, and swallowing it 
without chewing. 

As for us slaves" we had nothing to eat but some of 
this paste, which was thrown to us upon the carpet used 
by our patron to put under his feet while he repeated 
his prayers, and in the night as a mattrass to sleep on. 
After kneading this leaven a long time, he gave it to me 
to distribute it among my companions. It can scarcely 
be imagined how disagreeable it was to the taste. The 
water with which it was mixed had been procured on the 
sea-shore, and w r as afterwards preserved in a goat's skin, 
which they had lined with a kind of pitch to prevent it 
from corrupting, by which its smell was rendered doubly 
disgusting This water was our only drink, and, bad 
as it was, our allowance was extremely scanty. 

At dinner time, the next day, our masters regaled 
upon raw fat, of which they appeared remarkably fond. 
As soon as the meat was roasted, or rather baked, they 
took it from the earth, and, without taking time to free 
it from the sand which adhered to it, they devoured it 
with excessive voracity. Having well picked the bones, 
they used their nails to scrape off the remaining flesh, 
and then threw them to us, telling us, at the same time, 
to eat quickly, and unload the camels, that our journey 
might not be delayed. 

Passing some of the tents, the women, still more 
ferocious than the men, took pleasure in tormenting us 
while our masters durst scarcely oppose them. Having 
retired to a small distance from my load, I perceived a 
man taking aim at me with a double barrelled fusee, 
upon which I presented my breast to him, desiring bim 
to fire. He was greatly astonished at this firmness, and 
his surprise tended to confirm me, in my opinion, that 
these people are impressed with respect when a person 
appears aot to fear them. I was advancing toward^ 



M. DE BRISSON. , £47 

this man, when I was struck on the head, and for a 
few moments deprived of sense, by a stone from an 
unknown hand, but which I suspected to have been 
thrown by his wife, 

After resting three days among the Arabs of the tribe 
of Roussye, we resumed our journey, penetrating far- 
ther into the interior of the country, where we w ere to 
join the families of our conductors. After beiag expos- 
ed for sixteen days to the greatest fatigues and dreadful 
miseries, we at length reached the end of our journey, 
in a most wretched and exhausted condition. 

Being observed upon the brow of a hill, several of 
the black slaves, whose principal employment is to tend 
the camels, came to meet our masters, in order to kiss 
their feet, and inquire after their health. As we pro- 
ceeded, the children made the air resound with shouts 
of joy,, and the women standing up, out of respect, 
awaited at the doors of their tents, the arrival of their 
husbands. Upon their approach they advanced towards 
them with an air of submission, and each, after prostrat- 
ing before her husband, laid her right hand on his head 
and kissed it. This ceremony being finished they began 
to satisfy their curiosity with regard to us, and to load 
.us with abuse ; but they did not stop here, for they even 
spit in our' faces, and pelted us with stones. The chil- 
dren imitating their example, pinched us, pulled our 
hair, and scratched us with their nails ; their cruel 
mothers ordered them to attack sometimes one and 
sometimes another, taking pleasure in making them 
torment us. Exhausted with hunger, thirst, and des- 
pair, we had impatiently wished for the moment of our 
arrival, but little did we foresee the new torments that 
awaited us. 

After our masters had divided their slaves, the favor- 
ite wife of the talbe ordered M. Devoise, M. Baudre, 
and myself, who had fallen to her husband's share, to 
unload the camels, to clean a kettle which she brought 
us, and to pull up some roots to make a fire. White 
thus employed in signifying her will to us, her husband 
was quietly enjoying a sound sleep on the knees of orv? 
<>f his concubines. 



248 THE SHIPWRECK OF 

The hope of soon regaining my liberty Inspired me 
with sufficient fortitude to endure the hardships imposed 
upon me by this diabolical woman. I, therefore, went 
to collect some wood, but w^at was my surprise, when, 
upon my return, I beheld my two companions, who 
had been dreadfully beaten, extended on the sand. 
They had been subject to this cruel treatment, because 
their strength being entirely exhausted, they had been 
unable to perform the task assigned them. My repeated 
outcries awaked my master, and though, as yet, I spoke 
the language very imperfectly, I endeavored to address 
him in the following terms : " Have you conducted us 
liither to cause us to be butchered by a cruel woman ? 
Think of your promise. Conduct me without delay, 
either to Senegal or Morocco ; if you do not, I will cause 
all the effects I gave you to be taken away." 

My passion knew no bounds, and several of the 
neighbors having approached me, my master appeared 
to be extremely uneasy, fearing lest I should mention 
the quantity of the effects which he had received from 
me. Addressing himself to his wife : " I forbid thee," 
said he, " to require from him the least service that may 
be disagreeable to him, and if thou dost, I desire that 
he may not obey thee." From this moment that wo- 
man conceived an implacable hatred against me. 

The end of August approached, and not the smallest 
preparations were made for our journey. I asked Sidy 
Mohammed what he was waiting for, in order to con- 
duct me to Senegal. He replied, that he was looking 
for strong vigorous camels capable of enduring the 
fatigues of such a journey, and that it was his intention 
to setoff as soon as he had procured them. 

I was the more urgent in mtreating him not to delay, 
as the nights now began to be very uncomfortable, the 
dew frequently wetting us through the bushes, which 
afforded a kind of shelter. From this dew, we, how- 
ever, obtained some relief ; for by collecting it in our 
hands from our bodies, it served to quench our thirst, 
which the coolness of the night did not allay, and we 
preferred it to our own urine, which we were often ne- 
cessitated to drink, Having spoken to my master a 



M. &E BRISSON, 24fl 

second time, he made me such a reply as convinced 
me he was sincere. " Dost thou think," said he, " that, 
in the present excessive heat, it would be possible to 
travel without provisions, and, above all, without water? 
We should find it very difficult to approach the Senegal, 
as. the river has inundated all the neighboring plains; 
and we should have much to fear from the Arabs of the 
tribe of Trargea, who are our enemies. I tell thee 
the truth," added he, " we must wait till the month of 
October."- 

As we were Christians, when the Arabs had almost 
exhausted their provisions, their dogs fared better than 
we, and it was in the basins destined for their use that 
we received our allowance. Their object was to im*ke 
us change our religion, but in t!-ls they failed, although 
our food consisted of raw snails, and herbs and plants, 
that were trodden under foot. 

_ I was soon undeceived by a young female Moor, 
whose flocks fed with tho* " I tended, respecting the 
hopes I had entertained of liberty, in consequence of 
my master's promises, and this information rendered my 
labors still more irksome and insupportable. 

I no longer met in the fields my companions in mis- 
fortune, but above all, I regretted the loss , of the cap- 
tain. His company had often comforted me in afflic- 
tion, and I found a kind of alleviation in conversing 
with him on our sufferings, and the hopes we entertain- 
ed of returning to our native land. One evening, the 
coolness of the weather having enticed my camels to 
stray farther than usual, I was under the necessity of 
following them to a neighboring hamlet, where I beheld 
a spectacle truly horrible. The unfortunate captain was 
extended lifeless upon the sand, holding, in his mouth, 
one of his hands, which his extreme weakness had, 
doubtless, prevented him from devouring. He was so 
altered by famine, that all his features were absolutely 
effaced, and his body exhibited the most disgusting 
appearance. 

A few days afterwards the second captain having fal- 
len, through weakness, at the foot of an old gum tree, 
was attacked by an enormous serpent. Some famish- 



"250 THfe SHIPWRECK OF 

ed crows, by their cries, frightened away the venomous 
animal, and alighting on the body of the dying man, 
were tearing him to pieces, while four savages more 
cruel than the furious reptile, beheld this scene without 
affording him the least assistance. I endeavored to run 
towards him, if possible, to save his life, but was stop- 
ped by the barbarians, who, after insulting me, said : 
i This Christian also will soon become a prey to the 
turds.' Finding my efforts ineffectual, I hastened from 
this scene of horror ; and not knowing which way tt> 
direct my steps, I followed my sheep and my camels. 
Upon my arrival at the tents, my master, struck with 
my absent and distracted looks, inquired what was the 
matter. "Go, (replied I,) a lew steps hence, and be- 
hold what your cruelty,' and that of your wife is capable 
of producing. You have suffered my companion to ex- 
pire, and because his illness prevented him from work- 
ing, you refused him the milk necessary for hi?, subsis- 
tence." 

While pronouncing these words, I concealed my tear?, 
which would only have excited the laughter of these 
human brutes, who ordered me to go and bring away 
the bloody clothes of the unhappy victim of their barbar- 
ity. I was fired with indignation at such an indecent 
proposal. My agitation, and the fern which I had eatem 
to appease my hunger, produced a painful vomiting, 
which was succeeded by almost total debility. I was, 
however, able to crawl behind a bush, where I found 
another wretched object, who inquired the reason of my 
tears, and if I had seen Baudre. " He is not far off," I 
replied. This was all I could, or wished to say : but my 
master's sister, who came to bring us some milk, ex- 
claimed, "The crows are now devouring Baudre's en- 
trails ; you will soon meet the same fate ; you are good 
for nothing else." 

My health, which had hitherto been better than I 
could have expected, now declined fast. My whole 
skin had been twice renewed, and my body began to be 
•overed a third time, with a kind of scales, like those of 
the Arabs, and this change was attended with considera- 
ble pain. The thorns over which I had walked, had 



M. DB BRISSON. 251 

torn my feet to the quck ; I could scarcely stand erect, 
and the large dogs continually let loose upon me, and 
from which I could never disengage myself without re- 
ceiving dreadful wounds, rendered me absolutely inca- 
pable of guarding the camels. To add to my misery, 
the excessive heats about the end of February and 
March, had dried up all the water in that part of the 
country* and not a single drop of rain had fallen to 
moisten the fields which I had sown. Our cattle finding 
no pasture, were on the point of perishing, when the 
tribes of Labdesseba and the Ouadelims, having taken 
into consideration their present condition, resolved to 
go in quest of some spot occupied by more industrious 
inhabitants. 

,. In this melancholy situation I accidentally met with 
a.n Arab, having in his train a Christian slave, who, JL 
found, had been baker to our ship. This man was dis- 
posed of to my master at a moderate price, and ordered 
to perform my ordinary labor. I had now an opportu- 
nity of recruiting my strength a little ; but the unfortu- 
nate baker paid dearly for his knowledge in the art of 
preparing food. Having eaten all the snails we could 
find, we fed upon sheep which had died either of hunger 
or disease. This suggested to us the idea of strangling 
a few kids in the night time, persuaded that our masters 
would not meddle with them, as their law prohibits their 
eating of any animal unless, it has died by the knife ; but 
being suspected, and at length caught in the act, we 
narrowly escaped having our throats cut. 

. One morning as I was preparing to set off to cut wood, 
po©r Devoise, addressing me in a faint and languishing 
voice, said, " The illusion is now over; I have hitherto 
flattered myself with hopes of again beholding my na- 
tive country, but I feel my strength forsake me. • This 
night, my dear friend, for this title justly belongs to you, 
after all your care, you will find my body arrested by 
the cold hand of death. Adieu, my friend ! the tears 
which you strive to Conceal, are a new proof of your 
attachment. Write to my brother ; tell him that I re- 
membered him in my last moments, and that I die with' 
the sentiments of a true Christian. Adieu ! my last 



252 THE SHIPWRECK OP 

moment is nearer than I expected. I expire i" He 
spoke no more ; that moment, indeed, was his last. 

I was deeply affected at loosing M. Devoise, though I 
had only known him since our departure from France. 
I went into the field to seek the only companion I had 
now left, and, upon our return, we were ordered to car- 
ry away our friend's body, and to dig a very deep pit, 
in order, as the Arabs said, to conceal (hat Christian 
from the sight of their children. This last duty to the 
deceased, we performed with difficulty ; for, being too 
weak to carry him, we were obliged to drag him by the 
feet three quarters of a league. The earth, at the brink 
of the pit giving way, I tumbled in first, and was very 
- near expiring under the weight of the body. 

A few days afterwards we quitted that place to seek a 
more fertile spot, and encamped in the vicinity of sev- 
eral other tribes, where I found one of our sailors, 
named Denoux, who was a slave like myself. I enquir- 
ed what had become of my companions. " Six of them 
(said he) were carried away by the Emperor's son, soon 
after our ship wreak, and have since gone to France. 
M. Taffnro, the surgeon-major, died of blows he re- 
ceived on the head with a large stick ; M, Raboin, 2d. 
lieutenant, likewise expired in dreadful torture. Others, 
to avoid the horcors of famine, have renounced their 
religion. As for me, it will not be long before I follow 
those whom death has delivered from their misery. Be- 
hold in what a condition I am; there is no kind of ill- 
treatment to which I am not daily exposed." 

Upon the information that some of the crew had re- 
turned to France, I conceived new hopes, thinking that 
the marine minister would transmit positive orders to 
reclaim the rest. Such commands were actually re- 
ceived by the vice-consul at Morocco, but he neglected 
to execute them. I was reflecting upon the cause of this 
total neglect, when upon retiring behind my bush, I was 
much astonished to see, my master's camels returning 
without a guide. Being callec 1 , rather too late to receive 
my portion of milk, and not seeing the poor baker, I 
took the liberty of inquiring what was become of him, 
but the Arabs returned a very cold answer, and drove I 



m. ms bbxsson. 253 

«ne from their presence. Early the next morning a 
young Arab, employed in tending the flocks, informed 
me that Sidy Mohammed, suspecting that the baker 
privately milked his camels, watched him, and having 
caught him in the act, seised Mm by the throat and 
strangled him. 

I was now the only slave remaining in the hamlet, 
and had no longer any companion to whom I could 
eoinunicate my misfortunes. My situation became daily 
more deplorable, but yet I resolved not to suffer myself 
to be dejected. 

This resolution, and my conduct towards those who 
bad endeavored to humble me, procured me some res- 
pect among these savages ; so that I was occasionly 
perinited to lodge in the back of their tents, and even 
sometimes to drink out of their vessels. My master, 
too, suffered me to remain unmolested, and I was no 
longer required to tend his camefe. It is true, he never 
said a word concerning my liberty, but if he had I 
should not have regarded it, as I was so well acquainted 
with his perfidy that I placed not the least confidence ia 
him. It was, however, necessaiy for me to make 
faggots, as I had done for some time, m order to ex- 
change them for milk, being often driven by thirst al- 
most to madness. The Arabs themselves suffered ex- 
ceedingly from the same cause ; several of them died of 
hunger and thirst ; this being the fourth season in which 
their crops had been destroyed by drought. This dread- 
ful situation had so irritated their minds, that the differ- 
ent tribes made war upon each other. Milk entirely failed 
them, and each tried who could carry off most castle, 
for the purpose of killing them and drying the flesh. 
Water was still scarcer, as little is to be found in the 
desert, excepting -towards the sea, and even there it is 
black, putrid, and brackish. The bad qualify of this 
beverage, together with the want of pasturage, always 
keeps the Arabs at a distance from the coast. Being 
destitute of every kind of provision, none attempted to 
pursue his journey. Those who had the least milk 
quenched their thirst from the bowels of the camels 
which tfcey killed. From the stomachs *>* these ani- • 
X 



254 THE SHIPWRECK Off 

mals they pressed a greenish kind of water, which they 
carefully preserved, and boiled their flesh in it. That 
procured from the botlies of their goats had the taste 
and smell of sweet fennel, and the broth made of it 
never appeared disagreeable ; but that procured from 
the camel was not equally pleasing to the taste. I was 
much astonished, that these animals, which never drink 
above two or three times a year, and eat nothing but 
dried plants, should have such a prodigious quantity of 
water in their stomachs. 

In order to regain my liberty I found means to get 
again into my possession the treasure I had given the 
Arab, which might have enabled me to cross the desert, 
and to bribe the Arabs to conduct me to Morocco. 
Sidy Mohammed, however, missed it, and prevailed on 
me, by powerful arguments, once more to restore it. 
The principal inducement was a promise of being sent 
to Mogador, and meanwhile to be allowed a sufficient 
quantity of milk, night and morning. 

At length chance conducted Sidy Mahmud, sheriff of 
ihe tribe of Trargea, to the place which I was watering 
with my tears. He enquired who I was, upon which 
ihe Arabs acquainted him with my history, boasting of 
the great riches, in powder and arms, which I was said 
to possess at Senegal. The sheriff immediately recol- 
lected me, asked me what situation I had held in the 
island of St. Louis, and I answered his questions. Look- 
ing at me nearer, he exclaimed : "What ! art thou Bris- 
son ?" Upon my replying in the affirmative, he appear- 
ed greatly astonished, and addressing himself to the 
Arabs : " You know not this Christian, (said he,) every 
thing at Senegal belongs to him." This man having 
seen me deliver stores in the king's magazine, imagined 
that they were my property ; and my master's brother- 
in law, Sidy Selim, hearing this flattering account of my 
riches, did not scruple to purchase me at the price of 
five camels. 

I was ignorant of this bargain, when I was unexpect- 
edly filled with joy and surprise. Returning one evening 
with my master from watering our camels, for the third 
lime duiing three months, my mistress orderetl me to 



M. DE ERISSON. 255 

f*arry a leather bucket, which she had borrowed, to a 
neighboring tent. There I found Sidy Selim, who, 
calling me to him, directed me to prepare to depart with 
him the next morning for Mogador. I had been so often 
flattered wi.ii this hope, and as often deceived, that I 
could scarcely believe him to be in earnest. The ap- 
pearance, however, of some preparation for tlie propos- 
ed journey,' convinced me that he was, and the old 
man repeating his protestations, I was so transported 
that I threw myself at his feet, wept, sighed, and laugh- 
ed ; in short, I knew not what I was doing. In order to 
feet or form an idea of what I experienced, when I learn- 
ed that the chains of my servitude were broken, a per- , 
son must have been reduced to a similar situation. 

My former master then called me, and told me that I 
no longer belonged to him. " I have fulfilled my promise, 
(he added,) you are going to be restored to your coun- 
try." These words made me forget all my resentment, 
and resign myself entirely to joy, which was increased 
when informed that I was to have a companion. " We 
are going to join him, (said he) a few paces hence." 
I was far from suspecting that he meant the unfortunate 
baker. The moment I saw him, I asked by what mira- 
cle he had been restored to life. " Alas ! (he replied,) 
I know not how I escaped death. Sidy Mohammed one 
day surprised me milking his camels. He ran up to me, 
gave me several blows, and squeezed my throat sa 
closely that I fell almost lifeless at his feet. Upon re- 
covering my senses, I was astonished to find myself 
alone. My neck was covered with blood, and you may 
still see the marks of his nails. I crawled, as well as I 
was able, into a cavern of the rock, which several times 
echoed the voice of my barbarous master, who came 
back to look for me, or at least to see in what situation 
I was. I had resolved either to starve myself to death, 
or to make for the sea-coast, in the hope of meeting 
with some vessel. I arrived there after a journey often 
days, during which time I had no food but snails, and 
nothing to drink but my. own urine. I had scarcely pro- 
ceeded twenty paces among the rocks, in order to hail 
a small sloop, which lay at anchor off the coast, when I 



256 THE SHIPWRECK 0-F 

was seized by two young Arabs, who took the greatest 
care of me ; and since that time I have been their slave. 
They appeared to be of a much milder disposition than 
the Arabs of the interior, and are much more industrious. 
They informed me, about a fortnight ago, that they were 
going to take me to the sultan, and I am inclined to be- 
lieve that their reason for bringing- me hither, was, be- 
cause they had agreed upon this place of rendezvous 
vviih your master, after informing h m that they had me 
in their possession." 

Sidy Mohammed's behaviour, upon taking leave of 
me, was very affecting. " Adieu, my dear Brisson !" 
said he, " you are about to undertake a long journey. 
You will soon perceive that I had great reason to be 
afraid of it. I wish no danger may befal you, and that 
your passage by sea may be more fortunate than the 
last. Adieu ! forget not to send my wife the scarlet 
cloth. Charge it to the account of Sidy Selim. Once 
more adieu, my dear Brisson !" The tears which accom- 
panied his last words, might have deceived me, had I 
not known what an adept he was in the art of dissimu- 
lation. 

x\fter we had been sixty-six days on our journey, my 
strength was exhausted, my legs were prodigiously 
swollen, my feet covered with running sores, and I 
should infallibly have sunk under my misfortunes, had 
not my master, to encourage me, every now and then 
said, " Behold the sea ! Dost not thou see the ships ? 
Have a good heart ; we are almost at our journey's end," 
Hope supported me, and when I least expected it, I be- 
held the element of which I had so much cause to com- 
plain. Upon emitting a labyrinth of broom bushes, we 
arrived at the top of a few little sand-hills, when, to 
my inexpressible joy — a joy, of which the reader can 
scarcely form any idea — I perceived the French colors, 
and those of soveral other nations, floating over the 
poops of different vessels lying in the harbor of Moga- 
dor, which place, I, as yet, knew only by the name of. 
Haira. " Well, Brisson !" said my master, " art thou 
content? Dost thou not see the vessels ? Are there 
any French ? 1 promised to conduct thee to the consul. 



M. DE BRISSON. 257 

and thou seest that I have kept my word. But what is 
the matter : thou art quite silent ?" Alas ! what could I 
answer ! I could scarcely give vent to my tears ; and to 
articulate a word was impossible. I surveyed the sea, 
the colors, the ships, and the city, and thought that every 
thing I beheld was only an illusion. The unfortunate 
baker, equally affected and surprised, joined his sighs 
with mine, while my tears bathed the hands of the gener- 
ous old man who had procured me the enjoyment of 
such an agreeable prospect. 

On entering the city we met two Europeans. " Who- 
ever thou art, (said I,)- behold the misery of ^n unfortu- 
nate man, and deign to assist him. Afford me some 
consolation, and revive my drooping spirits. Where 
am I ? Of what country are you ? What day of the 
month is it? What day of the week is it?" I found 
that I addressed two of my countrymen from Bordeaux, 
who after looking at me a few moments, went to inform 
Messrs Duprat and Cabanes, who considered it their 
duty to relieve, as far as lay in their power, such unhappy 
people as might he driven upon these coasts. Those 
gentlemen came to meet me, and without being disgust- 
ed at my appearance, which was far from inviting, they 
clasped me in their arms and shed tears of joy at being 
able to relieve an unfortunate man. 

While I was waiting for an audience with the emperor^. 
I saw a captain review his troop. He was seated upon 
the ground, with his chin resting upon his two fists, and 
his arms placed upon his knees, which were bent up- 
wards. He made his soldiers advance Iwo by two, then 
gave his orders, upon which the men, after prostrating 
before him, retired to their posts, or went to enjoy their 
amusement. 

Five or six of the guards arriving with white stages, 
suddenly leaped upon me, seized me by the collar, like 
a malefactor, and having ordered two large folding doors, 
like those of our barns, to be opened, they pushed me 
rudely into a kind of enclosure, where Mooked in vain 
for any thing announcing the majesty of the throne. 
Having walked fifteen or twenty paces past a kind of 
wheel-barrow, ray attendants made me suddenly turn 
X2 ■ 



S$8 THE SHirWRECK ©F 

about, and pushing me in a brutal manner, ordered me 
to prostrate myself before this wheel barrow, in which the 
emperor was seated cross-legged, amusing himself with 
stroking his toes. Having looked at me for some time, 
lie asked, if I was not one of those Christian slaves 
whose vessel had been cast away upon his coasts about 
a year before ; what was the intention of my voyage to 
Senegal, &c. " You were lost through your own fault," 
said he, " Why did you not keep farther from the shore ? 
Art thou rich ? Art thou married ?" 

I had scarcely answered these questions, when he or- 
dered paper and ink to be brought him, with a small 
reed, which he used as a pen. He then traced out the 
four cardinal points, to shew me that Paris lay towards 
the north, and wrote down a few cyphers, as far as 
twelve, asking me if I knew them. He likewise put 
several questions of the same kind, to display the great 
extent of his learning. 

" Did the mountaineers treat thee well ? (continued 
the prince ;) Did they take much of thy etfects ?" I re- 
plied to all his questions ; observing, that in proportion 
as we approached the capital, we found the manners of 
Ihe inhabitants milder and more civilized. " My authori- 
ty does not extend over all the country thou hast travers- 
ed, (said he,) or rather my orders cannot be convejed so 
iar. With whom didst thou come ?" With Sidy Selim, 
of the tribe of Roussye. " I know him, let him be 
brought hither." A moment afterwards my master was 
introduced. The emperor ordered one of his guards to 
take care of me and the baker, till he should receive 
fresh orders, and to supply me with food from the royal 
kitchen ; this man seemed greatly surprised that the sul- 
tan should have conversed so long with a slave. 

Fortunately the French* consul was at this time, in 
great favor with the emperor, on account of some pres- 
ents which he had made him. The emperor, for this 
reason, set all the prisoners at liberty, and me among 
ihe rest ; so that we had now only to consider of the 
necessary measures for our return to France. 

The Arabs of the desert among whom I had resided, 
are so iguorant, that they not only consider themselves 



as the principal nation in the wotld, but have the foolish 
vanity to belive that the sun rises for them only : " Be- 
hold that luminary, (said they,) which is unknown in 
thy country ! During the night thou art not lighted as 
we are, by that heavenly body which regulates our days 
and our fasts. His children, (meaning the stars,) point 
out to us the hours of prayer. You have neither trees 
nor camels, sheep, goats, nor dogs. Are your womeu 
made like ours 7" M Indeed, (said one, counting my 
finders and toes,) he is made like us ; he differs only in 
his color and language, which astonishes me. Do you 
sow barley in your houses ?" (meaning our ships.) No s 
answered I ; we sow our fields almost in the same sea- 
son as you. " How I (exclaimed several of them,) do 
you live upon land ? We believed that you were born 
and lived upon the sea." 

As soon as my quarantine was finished at Cadiz, where 
I landed, before I proceeded to my native land, or to 
the arms of a tender and affectionate wife, I wrote to the 
Marechal de Castries that I waited his orders to return 
to Senegal. Charged with fresh despatches, I again em- 
barked at Havre de Grace, on the 6th of May. 1787j 
and had the good fortune to arrive at the island of St 
I^ouis, without any accident, 



260 



SHIPWRECK OP 

THE JONGE THOMAS, 

A Dutch Ecut-Indiaman, at the Cape of Good Hope, 
June tlwZd, 1773. 

On the 1st of June, 1773, being Whit-Mon- 
day, there arose at the Cape a very high north-west 
wind, with voilent hurricanes and showers of rain. At 
night, in this storm, the Jonge Thomas, one of the four 
ships belonging to the Company that were still in the 
road, having lost all her anchors, one after the other, 
was driven on the sands near the shore at Zoul River, 
and, in consequence of he* heavy lading, .parted into 
pieces in the middle. The surge rose to an amazing 
height on the shore, and Zoul River was so swollen as 
to be almost impassable. It is true from the middle of 
May to the middle of August, the Company's ships are 
prohibited from lying in the road; yet it sometimes hap- 
pens, that the governor permits it, in order to avoid 
the inconvenience* of victualling and lading the ships in 
False Bay. Independently of the loss sustained by the 
Company, as well in ships as merchandise, a number of 
the crew likewise unfortunately perished on this occa- 
sion. They were lost for want of assistance, and met 
with a deplorable death very near the land. Only sixty- 
three men escaped ; one hundred and forty-nine being 
unhappily drowned. 

The ship had scarcely struck, which happened just at 
day-break, when the most efficacious measures were em- 
ployed, to save as much as possible of the company's 



SHIPWRECK OF THE JONGl THOMAS. 26$ 

property, that might chance to be cast on shore ; though 
not the least care was taken to deliver a single soul of 
the crew from their forlorn and miserable situation. 
Thirty men were instantly ordered out, with a stripling 
of. a lieutenant, from the citadel, to the place where the 
ship lay, in order to keep a strict look .out, and prevent 
any of the Company's effects from being stolen. A 
gibbet was erected, and an edict issued at the same 
time, importing that whoever should come near the 
spot, should be hanged immediately, without trial, or 
sentence being passed upon them. On this account, 
the compassionate inhabitants, who had gone out on 
horseback to the assistance of the wretched sufferers, 
were obliged to return, without being able to do them, 
the least service ; but, oft the contrary, witnessed the-- 
brutality and want of feeling evinced on this occasion 
by certain persons, who did not bestow a thought oit 
affording the least assistance or relief to their feilow- 
creatures upon the wreck, perishing with cold, hunger, 
and thirst, and almost in the arms of death. 

Another circumstance tended to render this otherwise, 
distressing scene still more afflicting. Among the few 
lucky enough to save their lives by swimming from the 
wreck, was the gunner, who stripped himself quite nak- 
ed, in order thai he might swim the easier, and had (fee 
good luck to come alive to shore, which was not the 
case with e\cry one who could swim ; for many were 
either dashed to pieces against the rocks, or by the vio- 
lence of the surf, carried again iuto the nr. When he 
arrived on shore he found his chest landed before him ; 
but just as he was going to open it, and take out his 
great coat, the lieutenant who commanded the party, 
drove him away from it, and though he earnestly beg- 
ged for leave to take out the clothes necessary for cov- 
ering his naked and shivering body, and could also 
prove by the key, fastened, according to the sailor's 
custom, to his waist, as well as by his name cut on the 
lid of his chest, that it was actually his property, he was, 
nevertheless, forced to retreat without effecting his pur- 
pose, by this merciless hero, who gave him several 
smart blows with his cane on his bare back. After he 



262 SHIPWRECK OF THE JONGE THOXAS. 

had passed the whole day naked and hungry', arid ex- 
posed to the piercing winds, and was going to be taken, 
in the evening, to town along with others who had been 
saved from the wreck, he again asked leave to take a 
coat out of his chest to cover himself with ; but this 
having been previously plundered, he found empty. 
On entering the town, where he arrived stark naked, he 
met with a burgher, who took compassion on him and 
lent him his great coat. Afterwards, he, as well as the 
other unfortunate wretches, were obliged to run about 
the town, several days together, begging victuals, 
clothes, and money, till at length they received support 
at the Company's expense, and were again taken into 
its service. 

Another action, honorable to humanity, deserves the 
more to be recorded, as it shews, that at all times, and 
in all places, there are both good and considerate peo- 
ple, as well as such who have nothing human but the 
shape. An old man, of the name of Woltemad, by 
birth an European, who was at this time the keeper of. 
the beasts at the managerie, near the garden, had a son 
in the citadel, who was a corporal, and among the first 
who had been ordered out to Paarden Island, (Horse 
Island,) where a guard was to be placed for the wrecked 
goods. This worthy veteran borrowed a horse, and 
rode out in the morning with a bottle of wine and a loaf 
of bread for his son's breakfast. This happened so early 
that the gibbet had not yQt been erected, nor the edict 
posted up, to point out to the traveller the nearest road 
to eternity. The hoary sire had no sooner delivered to 
his son the refreshments he had brought him, and heard 
the lamentations of the distressed crew from the wreck, 
than he resolved to ride his horse, which was a good 
swimmer, to the wreck, with a view of saving some of 
them. He returned safe with two of the unfortunate 
sufferers, and repeated this dangerous trip six times, 
each time bringing with him two men, and thus saved, 
in all, fourteen persons. The horse was by this time so 
much fatigued, that he did not think it prudent to venture 
out again ; but the cries and intreaties of the poor suffer- 
ers on the wreck increasing, he ventured one trip more, 



SHIPWRECK OF THE JOKGE THOMAS. g$3 

which proved so unfortunate, that he lost his own life, as 
on this occasion, too many rushed upon him at once, 
some catching hold of the horses tail, and others of the 
bridle, by which means, the horse wearied out, and too 
heavily laden, turned Jiead over heels, and all drowned 
together. 

This noble and heroic action of a superanuated old 
man shews that a great number of lives might probably 
have been saved, if a strong rope had been fastened by 
one end to the wreck and by the other to the shore. 
When the storm and waves had subsided, the ship was 
found to lie at so small a distance from the land that 
one might almost have leaped from her upon the shore. 

On receiving intelligence of the above event, the East- 
India Directors in Holland, ordered one of their ships to 
be called the Woltemad, and the story of his hu- 
manity to be painted on the stern : they farther enjoined 
the regency of the Cape to provide for his defendants. 

Unfortunately, in the southern hemisphere, all were 
not impressed with the same sentiments of gratitude. 
The young corporal Woltemad, who had been an una- 
vailing witness of his father having sacrificed himself in 
the service of the Company and of mankind, wished in 
vain to be gratified with his father's place, humble as it 
was. Stung with the disappointment, he left that un- 
grateful country and went to Batavia, where he died be- 
fore the news of such a great and unexpected recom- 
mendation could reach Jiim . 



*e& 



LOSS OP THE 



APOLLO FRIGATE, 



And Twenty-Nine Sail of Wesl-hidiamcn, near Figuera, 
on tlie Coast of Portugal, April 2, 1 804. 



By an Officer ofiiie Apollo. 



Mc 



JYlONDAY, the 26th of March, sailed from the 
Cove of Cork, in company with his majesty's ship Ca- 
rysfort, and Sixty-Nine sail of merchant ships, umler 
convoy for the West Indies ; 27th, were out of sight of 
land, with a fair wind, blowing a strong gale, and steer- 
ing W. S. W. The 28th, 29th, and 30th, weather and 
course nearly the same ; 31st, the wind came more to 
the westward, but more moderate. Sunday, the 1st of 
April, at noon, observed in lat. 40 deg. 51 min. north ; 
longitude, per account, 12 deg. 20 min. west; at eight 
o'clock on Sunday evening the wind shifted to the S. W. 
blowing very fresh; course S. S. E. At ten, up main- 
sail, and set the main stay sail. At a quarter past ten 
the main-sail split by the sheeting giving way ; called all 
hands upon deck. At half past ten strong breezes and 
equally; took in foretop sail, and set the fore-sail. At 
half past eleven the maintop-sail split ; furled it and the 
main-sail. The ship was now under her fore-sail, main, 
and mizen storm stay-sail ; the wind blowing hard, with 
a very heavy sea. 

About half past three on Monday inorDing, the 2d, 
the ship struck the ground, to the astonishment of every 
one on board; and, by the above reckoning, we then 



LOSS OF THE APOLLO FRIGATE. 265 

conjectured upon an unknown shore. She continued 
striking the ground very heavily several times, by which 
her bottom was materially damaged, making much wa- 
ter ; the chain-pumps were rigged with the utmost dis- 
patch, and the men began to pump, but in about ten 
minutes «he beat and drove over the shoal. On en- 
deavoring to steer her, found her rudder carried away — 
she then got before the wind ; the pumps were kept 
going, but from the quantity of water she shipped, there 
appeared every probability of her soon foundering, from 
her filling, and sinking very fost. 

After running about five minutes, the ship struck the - 
ground again, with such tremendous shocks, that all 
were fearful she would instantly go to pieces, and she 
kept stricking and driving farther on the sands, the sea 
making breaches completely over her. The lanyards of 
the main and mizen rigging being cut away, the masts 
fell, with a tremendous crash, over the larboard side ; 
the fore mast went immediately after. The ship then 
fell on her starboard side, with the gunwale under water. 
The violence with which she struck the ground, and the 
weight of the guns, those on the quarter deck tearing 
away the bulwark, soon made the ship a perfect wreck 
abaft ; only four or five guns could possibly be fired to 
alarm the convoy, and give notice of danger. On her 
stricking the second time, most pitiful cries were heard 
everywhere between decks, many of the men giving 
themselves up to inevitable death. I was told that I 
might as well stay below, as there was an equal, likeli- 
hood of perishing if I got upon deck. I determined to 
go, but first attempted to enter my cabin, though in dan- 
ger of having my legs broken by the chests floating 
about, and the bulk-heads giving way ; I therefore de- 
sisted, and endeavored to get upon the deck, which I 
effected, after being several times washed down the 
hatchway, by the immense volume of water incessantly 
pouring down. The ship stii! beating the ground very 
violently, made it necessary to cling fast to some part of 
the wreck, to prevent being earned by the surges, or 
hurled by the dreadful concussions, overboard; the peo- 
ple holding fast by the larboard bulwark of the quarter- 
Y 



266 LOSS OF THE APOLLO FRIGATE. 

deck, and the main channels, while our Captain stood 
naked upon the cabin sky-light grating, holding fast by 
the stump of the mizen-mast, and making use of every 
/soothing expression which could have been suggested to 
encourage men in such a perilous situation. Most of the 
officers and men were entirely naked, not having time 
to slip on a pair of trowsers. Our horrible situation 
£very moment became jnore dreadful; until day light 
appearing, about half past four o'clock, discovered to us 
*he land, at about two cables length distance, a long 
sandy beach, reaching to Cape Mondego, three leagues 
to the southward of us. On day- light clearing up, we 
could perceive between twenty and thirty sail of the 
convoy ashore, both to the northward and southward, 
and several of them perfect wrecks. Being now certain 
of being on the coast of Portugal, from seeing the above 
Oape, I am sorry to say, no person in the ship had the 
iea^t idea of being so near that coast. ;It blowing hard, 
and a very great swell of the sea, (or what is generally 
termed, waves, running mountains high,) there was little 
prospect of being saved. About eight o'clock, there 
being every likelihood of the ship's going to pieces, and 
i he after part laying lowest, Captain Dixon ordered every 
person forward, which it was very difficult to comply 
with, from the motion of the main-mast working on the 
larboard gunwale, there being .no other way to get for- 
ward. Mr. Cook, the boatswain, had his thigh broken, 
in endeavoring to get aboat over the side ; of six fine 
boats not one was saved, being all staved and carried 
over with the booms, fcc. Soon after the people got 
forward, the ship parted at the gangways. The crew 
jwere now obliged to stow themselves in the fore chan- 
nels, and from thence to the bowsprit end, to the num- 
ber of two hundred and twenty ; for out of two hundred 
and forty persons on board when the ship struck, I sup- 
pose twenty to have previously perished between decks, 
snd otherwise. Mr. Lawton,the gunner, the first per- 
son who attempted to swim on shore, was drowned ; 
afterwards Lieutenant Wilson ; Mr. Ftuncie, surgeon ; 
Mr. M'Cabe, surgeon's mate ; Mr. Stanley, master's 
mate ; and several men. shared the same fate, by reason 



5U053 OF THE AfOLLO FRIGATE. 261* 

of the sea breaking in enormous surges over them, 
though excellent swimmers. About thirty persons had 
the good fortune to reach the shore, upon planks and 
spars, among whom were Lieutesant Harvey, and Mr. 
Callam, master's mate. Monday night our situation was 
truly horrid, the old men and boys dying through hunger 
and fatigue, with Mr. Proby, and Mr. Hayes, midship- 
men. Captain Dixon remained all this night upon the 
bowsprit. 

Tuesday morning presented us no better prospect of 
being relieved from the jaws of death ; the wind blowing 
stronger, and the sea much more turbulent. About 
noon this day our drooping spirits were somewhat re- 
lieved by seeing Lieut. Harvey and Mr. Callam, hoisting 
out a boat from one of the merchant ships, to come to 
the assistance of their distressed shipmates. They 
several times attempted to launch her through the smf, 
but being a very heavy boat, and the sea on the beach, 
acting so powerfully against them, that they could not 
possibly effect it, though assisted by nearly one hundred 
men, of the merchant sailors, and of the Portuguese 
peasants. Several men went upon rafts this day, made 
from pieces of the wreck, bat not one soul reached the 
shore ; the wind having shifted, and the current setting 
out, they were all driven to sea, among whom was our 
Captain, who, about three in the afternoon, went on the 
jib boom with three seamen ; anxious to save the re- 
mainder of the ship's company, and too sanguine of 
getting safe on shore, he ventured upon the spar, saying, 
on jumping into the sea, " My lads, I'll save you all." 
In a few seconds he lost his hold of the spar, which he 
could not regain ; he drifted to sea, and perished. Such 
was also the fate of the three brave volunteers who chose 
his fortune. 

The loss of our Captain, who, until now, had animat- 
ed the almost lifeless crew, as well as the noble exertions 
of Lieut. Harvey and Mr. Callam to launch the boat, 
not succeeding, every gleam of hope vanished, and we 
looked forward for certain death the ensuing night, not 
only from cold, hunger, and fatigue, but the expectation 
of the remaining part of the wreck going to pieces every 



266 LOSS OF THE APOLLO FftlGATE. 

moment. Had not the Apollo been a new and Wefc 
built ship, that small portion of her could not have so 
long resisted the wares, and stuck so well together, par- 
ticularly as the after part from the chess-trees was gone, 
the starboard bow under water, the castle-deck nearly 
perpendicular, the weight of the guns hanging to the 
fcirboard bulwark, on the inside, and the bovver and spare 
anchors on the outside, which it was not prudent to cut 
away, as they afforded resting-places to a considerable 
number of men, there being only the fore channels, and 
cathead, where it was possible to live in, and about 
which were stowed upwards of one hundred and fifty 
men ; it being impracticable to continue any longer in. 
'lie head, or upon the bowsprit, by reason of the break- 
ers washing completely over those placec. The night 
drawing on, the wind increasing with frequent showers 
of rain, the sea washing over us, and looking every in- 
stant for the fore castle giving way, when we must all 
have perished together, afforded a spectacle truly deplo- 
rable ; the bare recollection of which, even now, makes 
me shudder. The piercing cries of the people this dis- 
mal night, at every sea coming over them, which hap- 
pened every two minutes, were pitiful in the extreme j 
the water running from the head down all over the body, 
keeping us continually wet. This shocking night, the 
remaining strength of every person was exerted for his 
individual safety. From the crowding so closely to- 
gether, in such a narrow compass, and the want of 
something to moisten our mouths, several poor wretches 
were suffocated ; which frequently reminded me of the 
Black Hole, with this difference only, that those poor 
sufferers were confined by strong walls, we by water ; 
the least movement, without clinging fast, would have 
launched us into eternity. Some of the unfortunate 
crew drank salt water ; several their own urine ; some 
chewed leather ; myself and many more chewed lead ; 
from which we conceived we found considerable relief, 
by reason of its drawing the saliva, which we swallow- 
ed. In less than an hour after the ship struck the ground, 
all the provisions were under water, and the ship a wreck, 
so that it was impossible to procure any part. After the 



LOSS OF THE APOLLO FRIGATE. 280 

most painful night that is possible to conceive, on day- 
light appearing, we observed Lieut. Harvey and Mr. 
Callam, again endeavoring to launch the boat. Several 
attempts were made without success, a number of men 
belonging to the merchant ships being much bruised and 
hurt in assisting ; alternate hopes and fears now pervaded 
our wretched minds; 15 men got safe on shore this 
morning on pieces of the wreck. About three in the 
afternoon of Wednesday the 4th, we had the inexpressi- 
ble happiness of seeing the boat launched through the 
surf, by the indefatigable exertions of the brave officers, 
assisted by the masters of the merchant ships, with a 
number of Portuguese Peasants, who were encouraged 
by Mr. Whitney, the British Consul, from Figuera, All 
the crew then remaining on the wreck, were brought safe 
on shore, praising God for a happy deliverance from a 
shipwreck which has scarcely ever had its parallel. As 
soon as I slept out of the boat, I found several persons 
whose humanity prompted them to offer me sustenance, 
though improperly in spirits, which I avoided as much as 
possible. Our weak state may be conceived, when it is 
considered that we received no nourishment from Sunday 
to Wednesday afternoon, and were continually exposed 
to the fury of -the watery element. After eating and 
drinking a little, I found myself weaker than before, oc- 
casioned, I apprehend, from having been so long with- 
out either. Some men died soon after getting on shore,, 
from imprudently dringing too large a quantity of spirits. 
All were in a very weak and exhausted state, the greater 
part being badly bruised and wounded. About thirty 
sail of merchant ships were wrecked at the same time on. 
this dreadful beach. Some ships sunk with all their peo- 
ple, and almost every ship lost from two to twelve men 
each ; yet the situation of the remainder was not equally 
distressing with that of the crew of the frigate ; as the 
merchant ships drawing a less draught of water, had 
mostly driven close on shore, and no person remained 
on board them after the first morning. The masters of 
the merchant ships had tents Upon the beach, and some 
provisions they had saved from the wrecks, which they 
generously distributed, and gave every assistance to the 
Y2 



270 LOSS OP THE APOLLO FRIGATE. 

Apollo's people. Thus was lost one of the finest frigates 
in the British navy, with sixty-one of her crew* The 
number of persons lost-in the merchant ships was also 
very considerable. Dead bodies every day floated 
ashore, and pieces of the wreck covered the beach for 
ten miles in extent. 

This fatal and unprecedented calamity, is universally 
ascribed to the carelessness and inattention of the Com- 
modore : and it is asserted, that had it been dark a 
quarter of an hour longer, the whole convoy would have 
shared the same fate 



%ll 



SHIPWRECK OF THE 

FRENCH SHIP DROITS DE L'HOMME, 

Of 74 Guns, driven on Shore the ISth of January, 1797. 
By Elias Pipon, Lieutenant of the 63d Regiment. 

%Jn the 5th of January, 1797, returning home 
on leave of absence from the West-Indies, in the Cum- 
berland letter of marque, for the recovery of my health, 
saw a large man of war off the coast of Ireland, being 
then within four leauges of the mouth of the river Shan- 
non. She hoisted English colors, and deeoyed us 
within gun-shot, when she substiuted the tri colored flag, 
and took us. She proved to be les Droits d L'flomme, 
©f 74 guns, commanded by the ci devant baron, now 
citizen La Crosse, and had separated from a fleet of 
men of war, on board of which were twenty thousand 
troops, intended to invade Ireland. On board of this 
ship was General Humbert, who afterwards effected a 
descent in Ireland (in 1799) with nine hundred troops 
and six hundred seamen.* 

On the 7th of January went into Bantry Bay to see 
if any of the squadron was still there, and on finding , 
none, the ship proceeded to the southward. Nothing 
extraordinary occurred until the evening of the 13th, 

* Sir Edward Pellew has since told me that the official 
Account from France, on which he has received head mon- 
ey, amounted to one thousand seven hundred and ffly 
souls at the time of the shipwreck. 



272 SHIPWRECK OP THE 

when two men of war hove io sight, which afterwards 
proved to be the Indefatigable and Amazon frigates. It 
is rather remarkable that the captain of the ship should 
inform me, that the squadron which was going to engage 
him was Sir Edward Pellew's, and declared, as was 
afterwards proved by the issue, that " he would not yield 
to any two English frigates, but would sooner sink his 
ship with every soul on board." The ship was then 
cleared for action, and we English prisoners, consisting 
€>f three infantry officers, two captains of merchantmen, 
two women, and forty- eight seamen and soldiers, were 
conducted down to the cable tier at the foot of the 
fore- mast. 

The action began with opening the lower deck port9, 
which, however, were soon shut again, on account of the 
great sea, which occasioned the water to rush in to that 
degree that we felt it running on the cables. I must 
here observe, that the ship was built on a new construc- 
tion, considerably longer than men of war of her rate, 
and her lower deck, on which she mounted thirty- two 
pounders French, equal to forty- pounders English^ was 
two feet and a half lower than usual. The situation of 
Ae ship, before she struck on the rocks, has been fully 
elucidated by 8ir Edward Pellew, in his letter of the 17th 
of January to Mr. Nepean :* the awful task is left for 
me to relate what ensued. 



* To render this narrative still more complete the letter 
of Sir Edward Pellew to the Secretary of the Admiralty 
is subjoined: — 

" / have the honor to make known to you, for the in- 
formation of the Lords Commissioners of the Admiralty, 
that on Friday last, the iSlh instant, at half past noon, 
in latitude 47 deg. 30 min. N. Ushanl bearing N. E. 50 
leagues, we discovered a large ship in the JV. W. quarter, 
steering under easy sail for France. The wind was then 
at west, blowing hard, with thick luizy weather. I inslaiU- 
ly made the signal to the Amazon for a general chase, 
and followed it by tlie signal that the chase was an enemy. 
At four P. M. the hide Jhti gable had gained sufficiently on 



DHOIT^ DE L'HOMMB. 271? 

At about four in the morning a dreadful convulsion, at 
the foot of the foremast, roused us from a state of anx- 
iety for our fate to the idea that the ship was sinking I 
It was the fore-mast that fell over the side ; in about a 
quarter of an hoar an awful mandate from above was 
re-echoed from all parts of the ship : Pauvres Anglais ! 
pauvres Anglais! Montez Men vite nous somme tons 
perdus ! — " Poor Englishmen ! poor Englishmen ! come 
on deck as fast as you can, we are all lost !" Every one 
rather flew than climbed. Though scarcely able to 
move before, from sickness, yet I now feli an energetic 
strength in all my frame, and soon gained the upper 



the chase for me to distinguish very dearly that she hud 
two Her of guns, with the lower-deck ports shut, and that 
she had no poop. 

" At fifteen minutes before six ne brought the enemy 
to close action, which continued to be well supported, on 
both sides, near an hour, when we unavoidably skoi 
ahead ; at this moment the Amazon appeared astern, and 
gallantly supplied our place ; bid the eagerness of Cap- 
tain Reynolds, to second his friend, had brought him un- 
der a press of sail, and after a well supported and close 
fire for a little time, fie also unavoidably shot ahead. 
The enemy, who had nearly effected running me on board, 
appeared to be much larger than the Indefatigable, and 
from her heavy fire of musquetry^ I believe was full of 
men. This fire was continued untill the end of tlie ac- 
tion, with great vivacity, altlwugh she frequently defend* 
ed both sides of the ship at the sa?ne time. 

" As soon as we had replaced some necessary rigging, 
and the Amazon had reduced her sail f we commenced a 
second attack placing ourselves after some raking broad- 
sides upon each quarter ; and this attack, often wiihin 
pistol shot, was, by both ships, urn-emitted for about five 
hours ; we tlien sheered off to secure our masts. It 
would be needless to relate to their lordships every effort 
that we made in an attack that commenced a quarter be- 
fore six P. M. and did not cease, excepting at intervals, 
till Imlf past f birr A, M. I believe ten hours of more 



2,74 SHIPWRECK OF THC 

deck, but what a sight J dead, and wounded, and living 
intermingled in a state too shocking to describe : not a 
mast standing, a dreadful loom of the land, and breakers 
all around us. The Indefatigable, on the starboard quar- 
ter, appeared standing off, in a most tremendous sea, 
from ihe Denmark Rocks, which threatened her with in- 
stant destruction. To the great humanity of her com- 
mander, those few persons Who survived the shipwreck, 
are indebted for their lives, for had another broadside 
been fired, the commanding situation of the Indefatiga- 
ble must have swept off at least a thousand men. — . 
On the starbourd side was seen the Amazon, within 



severe fatigue was scarcely ever experienced ; the sea was- 
high ; the people on the main deck up to their middles in 
the water. Some guns broke their breeckings Jour times 
over, some drew tlie ring-bolts from the sides, and many 
of them were repeatedly drawn immediately after loading / 
all our masts wcfe much wounded, the maintop-mast 
completely unrigged, and saved only by uncommon 
alacrity. 

" At about twenty minutes past four, the moon opening 
rather brighter than before, shewed to Lieidenant George 
Bell, who was watchfully looking out on the forecastle, a 
glimpse of land ; he had scarcely reached me to repeat it, 
when we saw the breakers. We were then close under the^ 
enemy's starboard bow, and the Amazon as near her on 
Vie larboard ; not an instant could be lost, and every life 
depended upon the prompt execution of my orders ; and 
here it is, with lieartftlt pleasure, I acknowledge the full 
value of my officer's and ship's company, who, with in- 
credible alacrity, hauled the tacks on board, and made sail 
to the southward. The land could not be ascertained, but 
we took it to be Ushant, and in the bay of Brest ; crip- 
pled as we were I had no particular fears ; bid before day 
we again saw breakers on the lee bom ; the ship was in- 
stantly wore to tlui northward ; and being satisfied that 
the land we had before seen was not Ushant, the lingering 
approach of day-light was most anxiously looked for by 
all, and soon after it opened \ seeing the land very close 



BR0IT3 DE l'hOMME. £7» 

two miles, just struck on shore. — Our own fate drew 
near. The ship struck and immediately sunk ! Shrieks 
of horror arid dismay were heard from all quarters, 
while the merciless waves tore from the wreck many 
early victims. Day-light appeared, and we beheld the 
shore lined with people, who could render us no assis- 
tance. At low water, rafts were constructed, and the 
boats were got in readiness to be hoisted out. The dusk 
arrived, and an awful night ensued. The dawn of the 
day brought with it. still severer miseries than the first, 
for wants of nature could scarcely be endured any lon- 
ger, having been already near thirty hours without any 
means of subsistence, and no possibility of procuring 
them. At low water a small boat was hoisted out, and 
an English captain and eight sailors succeeded in getting 
to the shore. Elated at the success ef these men all 
thought their deliverance at hand, and many launched 
out on their rafts, but, alas ! death soon ended their 
hopes. 



ahead, we again wore to the southward in twenty fathoms 
mater, and a few minutes after discovered the enemy, who 
had so bravely defended herself lying on her broadside, 
and a tremendous surf beating over her. Tfie miserable 
fate of her brave, but unhappy crew, was, perhaps, the 
more sincerely lamented by us, from the apprehension of 
suffering a similar misfortune. We passed tier within a 
mile, in a very bad condition, having at that time four 
feet water in the hold, a great sea, a)td the wind dead on 
the shore, but we had ascertained, beyond a doubt, our 
situation to the Hodlerne Bay, and that our fate depended 
upon the possible chance of weatJiering the Penmark 
Rocks. Exhausted as we were with fatigue every exertion 
was made, and every inch of canvas set that could be car- 
ried, arid at eleven A. M. we made the breakers, and, by 
the blessing of God, weathered the Penmark Rocks about 
half a mile. The Amazon had hauled her wind to the 
northward when we stood to live southward ; her condition^ 
I think, was better than ours, and I knew tluit her activi- 
ty and exertions were fully equal to any lluzl could be wn- 



276 SHIPWRECK OF THfl 

Another night renewed our afflictions. The morning 
of the third, fraught with still greater evils, appeared ; 
our continued sufferings made us exert the last effort, 
and we, English prisoners, tried every means to save 
as many of our fellow-creatures as lay in our power. 
Larger rafts were constructed, and the largest boat was 
got over the side. The first consideration was to lay 
the surviving wounded, the women, and helpless men 
in the boat, but the idea of equality, so fatally pormul- 
gated among the French, destroyed all subordination, 
and nearly one hundred and twenty having jumped into 
the boat, in defiance of their officers, they sunk her. 
The most dreadful sea that I ever saw, seemed at that 
fatal moment to aggravate the calamity; nothing of 
the boat was seen for a quarter of an hour, when the 
bodies floated m all directions ; then appeared, in all 
their horrors, the wreck, the shores, the dying, and the 
drowned \ Indefatigable in acts of humaninty, an ad- 
jutant general, Renier, launched himself into the sea, to 
obtain succours from the shore, and perished in the 
attempt. 



tier similar circumstances. The judgment with which she 
was managed during such a long action, and the gallant- 
ry of her attacks, could not but merit the highest commen- 
dation, and to the heart of a .friend it was peculiarly 
gratifying. I have fulfas much reason to speak highly 
of my own officers and men, to whom I owe infinite obli- 
gations. The lieutenants Thompson, Norway, and Bell ; 
lieutenants O' Conner and Oilson, of the marine ; and 
Mr. Thompson, the master, have abundant claims on my 
gratitude, as well as every inferior officer in the ship. The 
sufferings of the Amazon are unknown to me ; and I am 
singularly happy to say, that my own are inconsiderable. 
The first lieutenant, Mr. Thompson, a brave and wor- 
thy officer, is the only oyw of ihat description wounded, 
with eighteen men, twelve of winch number have wounds 
of no serious consequence, consisting cluejfy of violent 
contusions from splinters. 1 am, fyc. 

(Signed) EDWARD PELLEIV." 



DROSTS DE i/iiOMME, jj *I 

* Nearly one half of the people had already perished, 
when the horrors of the fourth night renewed all oui' 
miseries. Weak, distracted, and destitute of every 
thing, we envied the fate of those whose lifeless corpses 
no longer wanted sustenance. The sense of hunger was 
already-lost, but a parching thirst consumed our vitals. 
Recourse was had to urine and salt water, which only 
increased our want ; half a hogshead of vinegar indeed 
floated up, of which each had half a wine glass ; it 
afforded a momentary relief, yet soon left us again in the 
same state of dreadful thirst. Almost at the last gasp, 
every on6 was dying with misery, and the ship, now 
one third shattered away from the stern, scarcely afford- 
ed a grasp to hold by, to the exhausted and helpless sur- 
vivors. 

The fourth day brought with it a more serene sky. and 
the sea seemed to subside, but to behold, from fore to 
aft, the dying in all directions, was a sight too shocking 
for the feeling mind to endure. Almost lost to a sense 
of humanity, we no longer looked with pity on those 
whom we considered only as the forerunners of our own 
speedy fate, and a consultation took place, to sacrifice 
some one to be food for the remainder. The die was 
going ^o be cast, when the welcome sight of a man of 
vf ar brig renewed our hopes.. A cutter speedily followed, 
and both anchored at^a short distance from the wreck. 
They then sent their boats to us, and by means of large 
rafts, about one hundred, out of four hundred, who at- 
tempted it, were saved by the brig that evening. Three 
hundred and eighty were left to endure another night's 
misery, when, dreadful to relate, above one half were 
found dead the next morning ! 

I was saved about tea o'clock on the morning of the 
l-"8th, with my two brother officers, the Captain of the 
ship, and General Humbert. They treated us with great 
humanity on board the cutter, giving us a little weak 
brandy and water every five or six minutes, and after 
that a bason of good soup. I fell on the locker in a 
kind of trance for near thirty hours, and swelled to such 
a degree as to require medical aid to restore my decayed 
faculties. Having lost all our baggage, we were taken to 
Z 



r £i 8 gni? WRECK OP, &C. 

Brest almost naked, where they gave us a rough shift of 
clothes, and in consequence of our sufferings, and the 
help we afforded in saving many lives, a cartel was fitted 
out hy order of the French government to send us home, 
without ransom or exchange. We arrived at Plymouth . 
on the 7th of March following. 

To that Providence, whose great workings I have 
experienced in this most awful trial of human afflictions, 
be ever offered the tribute of my praise and thanks* 
giving. 



278 



THE LOSS Q3P 

■HIS MAJESTY'S SHIP PHGGNIX, 

Off the Island, of Cuba, in the Year 1780, 
By Lkuknmt Archer, 

_l HE Phoenix, of 44. guns, Captam Sir Ilydp 
Parker, was lost in a hurricane, off Cuba, in the year 
1780. The same hurricane destroyed the Thunderer, 
74,; Stirling Castle, 64; La Blanche, 42; Laurel, 28; 
Andromeda, 28 ; Deal Castle, 24 ; Scarborough, 20 ; 
Beavers Prize, 16; Barbadoes, 14; Cameleoc, 14; 
Endeavour, 14; and Victor 10 guns. Lieutenant Ar- 
cher was first lieutenant of the Phoenix at the time she 
was lost. His narrative in a letter to his mother, con- 
tains a most correct and iuiimated account of one of the 
most awful events in the service. It is so simple and 
natural as to make the reader feel himself on board the 
Phoenix. Every circumstance is detailed with feeling, 
and powerful appeals are continually made to the 
heart. It must likewise afford considerable pleasure to 
dbserve the devout spirit of a seaman frequently burst' 
mg forth, and imparting sublimity to the relation. 

At Sm, June 30, 1780. ' 

My Dearest Madam, 

I am now going to give you an account of our last 
cruise in the Phoenix ; and must premise, that should 
any one see it besides yourself, they must put this con- 
st^ictioa on it-c-that it, was originally intended for ike 



280 LOSS OF THE FHGENI-X. 

m 

eyes of a mother, and a mother only — as, upon that 
supposition, my feelings may be tolerated. You will 
also meet with a number of sea terms, which, if 
you don't understand, why, I cannot help you. as 
I am unable to give a sea description in any other 
words. 

To begin then: — On the 2d of August, 1780, we 
weighed and sailed for Port Royal, bound for Pcmaccla, 
having two store-ships under convoy, and to see safe 
in ; then cruise off the Havannah, and in the gulf of 
Mexico, for six weeks. In a few days we made the 
two sandy islands, that look as if Uiey had just risen out 
of the sea, or' fallen from the sky; inhabited neverthe- 
less, by upwards of 300 English, who get their bread 
by catching turtles and parrots, and raising vegetables, 
which thej r exchange with ships that pass, for clothing 
and a few of the luxuries of life, as rum, &cc. 

About the 12th we arrived at Pensacola, without any 
thing remarkable happening, except our catching a vast 
quantity of fish, sharks, dolphins, and bonettos. On 
the I3th sailed singly, and on the 14th had a very heavy 
rale of wind at north, right off the land, so that we soon 
left the sweet place, Pensacola, a distance astern. We 
then looked into the Havannah, saw a number of ships 
there, and knowing that some of them were bound 
round the bay, we cruised in the track : a fortnight, 
however, passed, and not a single ship hove in sight to 
cheer our spirits. We then took a turn or two round 
the gulf, but not near enough to be seen from the shore. 
Vera Cruz we expected would have made us happy. 
but the same luck still continued ; day followed day, 
and no sail. The dollar bag began to grow a little bulky, 
for every one had lest two or three times, and no one 
had won : (this was a small gambling party entered 
into by Sir Hyde and ourselves ; every. one put a dollar 
Into a bag. and fixed on a day when we should see 
a sail, but* no two persons were to name the same 
day, and whoever guessed right iirst was to have 
the bag.) 

Being now tired of our situation, and glad the cruise 
was almost ant, for we found the navigation very dan- 



LOS 3 OF THE PH<E$1X.. 2S'l 

gerous, owing to unaccountable currents ; so shaped 
our course for Gape -Antonio. The next day the man 
at the mast head, at -about one o'clock in the afternoon, 
called out : " A sail upon the weather bow ! Ha ! Ha ! 
Mr. Spaniard, I think we have you at last. Turn out 
all hands ! make sail ! All hands give chace !" There 
was scarcely any occasion for this order, for the sound 
of a sail being in sight flew like wildfire through the ship, 
and every sail was set in an instant, almost before the 
orders were given. A lieutenant at the mast head, 
with a spy glass, " What is she ?" " A large ship stud- 
ding athwart right before the wind. P-o-r-t ! Keep her 
away ! set the studding sails ready !" Up comes the 
little doctor, rubbing his hands ; " Ha ! Ha ! I have 
won the bag." " The devil take you and the bag ; look, 
what's ahead will fill all our bags." Mast-head again : 
" Two more sail on the larboard beam !" " Archer, go 
up and see what you can make of them." " Upon deck: 
there ; I see a whole fleet of twenty sail Coming right 
before the wind." " Confound the luck of it, this is 
some convoy or other, but we must try if we can pick 
sionae of them out." " Haul down the studding-sails! 
Luff ! bring her to the wind ! Let us see what we con 
make of them." - 

About five we got pretty near them, and found them 
to be twenty-six sail of Spanish merchantmen, under 
convoy of three line of Battle ships, one of which 
chased us ; but when she found We were playing with 
her (for the old Phoenix had heels) she left chase, kiA 
joined the convoy ; which they drew up into a lump, 
and placed themselves at the outside ; but we still kept 
smelling about till after dark. O, for the Hector, the 
Albion, and a Frigate, and we should take the whole 
fleet and convoy, worth some millions I About eight 
o'clock perceived three sail at some distance from the 
fleet ; dashed in between them and gave ehacc; and 
were happy to find they steered from the fiett. About 
twelve came up with a large ship of twenty-six guns. 
"Archer, every man to his quarters! run the lower deck 
guns out, and light the ship up : shew this ft How our 
force ; it may prevent bis firing into us and killing a man 



2LS2 LOSS OF TnE PHCE-NIX. 

or two." No sooner sakl -than done. " Hca, the ship 
atopy ! lower your sails, and bring to instantly, or I'll 
sink you." Clatter, clatter, went the blocks, and away 
new all their sails in proper confusion. " What ship is 
fbat ?" « The Polly." " Whence came you ?" " From 
Jamaica." " Where are you bound ?" " To New- 
York." " What ship is that ?" " The Phoenix." Huziia, 
three times by the whole ship's company. An old grum 
fellow of a sailor standing oiose by me : " O, d — n your 
Cfcree cheers, we took you to be something else." Up- 
«n examination we found it to be as he reported, and 
that they had fallen in with the Spanish fleet that morn- 
ing, and were chased the whole day, and that nothing 
saved them but our stepping in between ; for the Span- 
iards took us for three consorts, and the Polly took the 
Phoenix for a Spanish frigate, till we hailed them. The 
t'ther vessels in company was likewise bound to New- 
York. Thus was I, from being worth thousands in idea, 
reduced to the old 4s. 6d. per day again; for the little 
doctor made the most prize money of us all that day, 
by winning the bag, which contained between 30 and 40 
dollars ; but this is nothing to what we sailors sometimes 
wndcrgo. 

After parting company, we steered S. S. E. to go round 
Antonio, and so to Jamaica (our cruise being out,) with 
our fingers in our mouths, and all of us as green as you 
please. It happened to be my middle watch, and about 
three o'clock, when the man upon the forecastle bawls 
out, "Breakers ahead, and land upon the lee bow;" I 
looked out, and it was so, sure enough. " Ready about] 
put the helm down! Helm alee!" Sir Hyde hearing 
me put the ship about, jumped upon deck. " Archer, 
"what's the matter 1 you are putting the ship about with- 
out my orders !" Sir, 'tis time to go about ; the ship 
is almost ashore, there is the land. " Good God, so it is ! 
Will the ship stay ?" Yes, Sir, I believe she will, if we 
don't make any confusion ; she is all aback — forward 
jiow ? " Well, (says he,) work the ship, I will not 
speak a single word." The ship- stayed very well. 
Then heave the lead ! see what water we have ! 
"Three fathom." Keep the ship away, W.N.Y/.r- 



ItttSS." OF THE EHC2i?ri3K 2$fc 

u By the mark three." " This won't do, Ardier;" No, 
sir, we had better haul more to the northward ; we came 
S. S. E. and had better steer N. Ni W. " Steady, and 
a quarter three." This may do, as we deepen a litileu 
" By the deep four." Very well, my lad, heave, quick. 
"Five fathom." That's a fine fellow ! another cast 
nimbly. "Quarter less eight." That will do, come, we 
shall get clear by and bye. " Mark- under water five." 
What's that? " Only five fathom, sir." Turn all hands 
up, bring the ship to an anchor; boy ! Are the anchors 
clear? " la a moment, sir; — All clear." What- water 
have you in the chains now 1 " Eight, half nine." Keep 
fast the anchors till I call you. " Aye, aye, sir, all fast." 
" I have no ground with this line." How- many fathoms 
have you out ? pass a long, the deep sea-line! "Aye, 
aye, sir." Heave away, watch! watch! bear away, 
veer away. "No gound, sir, with a hundred fathom." 
That's clever, comej Madame Phoenix, there is another 
squeak in you yet — all down but the watch ; secure the 
anchors again ; heave the maintop.sai* to the mast ; luifj 
and bring her to the wind ! 

I told you, Madam, yeu should have a little sea-Jar* 
gon : if you can understand half of what is already said, 
I wonder at it, though it is nothing to wfeat. is to come 
yet, when the old hurricane begins. As soon as the ship 
was a little to rights, and all quiet again, Sir Hyde came 
to me in the most friendly manner, the tears almost 
starting from his eyes — "Archer, we ought all to be 
much obliged to you for the safety of the ship, and per- 
haps of ourselves. I am particularly so ; nothing but 
that instantaneous presence of mind and calmness saved 
her ; another ship's length and we should have been 
fast on shore; had you been the least diffident, or made 
the least confusion, so as to make the ship baulk in her 
stays, she must have been inevitably lost." Sir, you 
are very good, but I have done nothing that I suppose 
any body else would not have done, in the same situa* 
tion. I did not turn all the hands up, knowing the watch 
able to work the ship ; besides had it spread immediately 
about the ship, that she was almost ashore, it might have 
created a confusion that was better avoided. " Well," 
says he, " 'tis well indeed." 



284 LOSS OP THE PHOENIX. 

At day-light we found that the current had set us be- 
tween the Colladora rocks and Cape Antonio, and that 
we could not have got out any other way than we did ; 
there was a chance, but Providence is the best pilot. 
We had sun set that day twenty leagues to the S. E. of 
our reckoning by the current. 

After getting clear of this scrape, we thought ourselves 
fortunate, aud made sail for Jamaica, but misfortune 
seemed to follow misfortune. The next night, my 
watch upon deck too, we were overtaken by a squall, 
like a hurrieane while it lasted ; for though I saw it com- 
ing, and prepared for it, yet, when it took the ship, it 
roared, and laid her down so, that I thought she would 
never get up again. However, by keeping her away, 
and clueing up every thing, she righted. The remain- 
der of the night we had very heavy squalls, and in the 
morning found the main-mast sprung half the way 
through : 123 leagues to the leeward of Jamaica, the 
hurricane months coming on, the head of the main mast 
almost off, and at a short allowance ; well, we must 
make tne best of it. The main-mast was well fished, 
tout we were obliged to be very tender of carrying the 
sail. 

Nothing remarkable happened for ten days afterwards, 
when we chased a Yankee Man of War for six hours, 
but could not get near enough to her before it was dark, 
to keep sight of her ; so that we lost her because unahle 
to carry any sail on the main mast. In about twelve 
days more made the island of Jamaica, having weather- 
ed all (he squalls, and put into Montego Bay for water; 
so that we had a strong party for kicking up a dust on 
shore, having found three men of war lying there. 
Dancing, &ui. &,c. till two o'clock every morning ; little 
thinking what was to happen in four day's time : for out 
of the four men of war that were there, not one was in 
being at the end of that time, and not a soul alive but 
those left of our crew. Many of the honses where we 
had been so merry, were so completely destroyed, that 
scarcely a vestige remained to mark where they stood. 
Thy works are wonderful, O God ! praised be thy holy 
name ! 



LOSS OF THE PH(E&XX. £%B 

September the 30th, weighed ; bound for Port Royal, 
found the eastward of the island ; the Barbadoes and 
Victor had sailed the day before, and the Scarborough 
was to sail the next. Moderate weather until October 
the 2d. Spoke to the Barbadoes off Port Antonio in the 
.Evening. At eleven at night it began to snuffle, with a 
monstrous heavy bill from the eastward. Close reefed 
the top sails. Sir Hyde sent for me : " What sort bf 
weather have we, Archer !" It blows a little, and has a 
very ugly look ; if in any other quarter but this, I should 
say we were going to have a gale of wind. " Aye, it 
looks so very often here when there is no wind at all ; 
however, don't hoist the top-sails till it clears a little, 
there is no trusting any country." At twelve I was re- 
lieved ; the weather had the same rough look : however, 
they made sail upon her, but had a very dirty night. 
At eight in the morning 1 came up again, found it blow- 
ing hard from the E. N. E. with close-reefed top sails 
upon the ship, and heavy squalls at times. Sir Hyde 
came upon deck : " Well, Archer, what do you think of 
it ?" O, Sir, tis only a touch of the times, we shall 
have an observation at twelve o'clock ;- the clouds are 
beginning to break ; it will clear up at noon, or else blow 
very hard afterwards. " I wish it would clear up. hut I 
doubt it much. I was once in a hurricane in the East- 
Indies, and the beginning of it had much the same ap- 
pearance as this. So take in the top-sails, we have 
plenty of sea-room." 

At twelve, the gale still increasing, wore ship, to 
keep as near mid channel, between Jamaica and Cuba, 
as possible ; at one the gale increasing still : at two 
harder ! Reefed the courses, and furled them ; brought 
to under a foul mizen stay sail, head to the northward. 
In the evening no sign of the weather taking off, but 
every appearance of the storm increasing-, prepared for 
a proper gale of wind ; secured all the sails with spare 
gaskets ; good roling takles upon the yards ; squared the 
booms ; saw the boats all made fast ; new lashed the 
£Uns ; double breeched the lower deckeis; saw that the 
carpenters had the tarpaulins and bai'tiris all ready for 
hatchways; got the top-gallant mast down upon the 



££0 LOtfB OF THE PHOENrx. 

deck ; jib-boom and sprit-sail-yard fore and aft ; in 
fact every thing we conld think of to make a snug 
ship. 

The poor devils ef birds now began to find the uproar 
»n the elements, for numbers, both of sea and land 
kinds, came on board of us. I took notice of some, 
which happening to be to leeward, turned to windward, 
like a ship, tack and tack : for they could not fry against 
it. When they came over the ship they dashed them- 
selves down upon the deck, without attempting to stir 
tiii picked up, and when let go again, they would not 
leave the ship, but endeavored to hide themselves from 
the wind. 

At eight o'clock a hurricane ; the 9ea roaring, but the 
wind still steady to a point ; did not ship a spoonful of 
water. However, got the hatchways all secured, ex- 
pecting an bat would be the consequence, should the wind 
shift ; placed the carpenters by the main- mast, with 
broad axes, knowing, from experience, that at the mo- 
ment you may want to cut it away to save the ship, an 
axe may not be found. Went to supper: bread, cheese, 
and porter. The purser frightened out of his wits about 
his bread bags ; the two marine officers as white as 
sheets, not understanding the ship's working so much, 
and the noise of the lower deck guns ; which, by this 
time, made a pretty screetching to the people not used 
to it ; it seemed as if the whole ship's side was going at 
each roll. Wooden, our carpenter, was all this time 
smoking his pipe and laughing at the doctor ; the 
second lieutenant upon deck, and the third in his ham- 
mock. 

At ten o'clock I thought to get a little sleep ; came to 
look into my cot ; it was full of water ; for every seam, 
by the straining of the ship, had begun to leak. Stretch- 
ed myself, therefore, upon deck between two chests, 
and Mi orders to be called, should the least thing hap- 
pen. At twelve a mklshipman came to me : " Mr. Ar- 
cher, we are just going to wear ship, Sir !" O, very 
well, I'll be up directly ; what sort of weather hav&you 
got ? " It blows a hurricane." Went upon deck, found 
Sir Hyde there. " It biow3 datan'd hard. Archer." It. 



£•98 OF THE rH(BWfX. #£7 

&oes indeed, Sir. " I don't know that I ever remem- 
ber its blowing so hard before, but the ship makes a 
very good weather of it upon this tack as she bows the 
sea; but we must wear her, as the wind has shifted to 
theS. E. and we were drawing right upon Cuba; so 
do you go forward, and have some hands stand by; 
loose the lee yard arm of the fore sail, and when she is 
right before the Wind, whip the clue garnet close up, and 
roll up the sail." Sir ! there is no canvas can stand 
against this a moment ; if we attempt to loose him he 
will fly into ribbands in an instant, and we may lose 
three or four of our people ; she'll wear by manning the 
fore shrouds. " O, I don't think she will." I'll an- 
swer for it, Sir ; I have seen it tried several times on 
'the coast of America with success. " Well, try it ,' 
if she does not wear, we can only loose the foresail 
afterwards." This was a great condescension from such 
a mw as Sir Hyde. However, by sending about two 
hundred people into the fore-rigging, after a hard strug- 
gle, she wore ; found she did not make so good weather 
on this tack as on the other ; for as the sea began to 
run across, she had not time to rise from one sea before 
another dashed against her. Began to think we should 
loose our masts, as the ship lay very much along, by 
the pressure of the wind constantly upon the yards and 
masts alone : for the poor mi z en-stay- sail had gone in 
shreds long before, and the sails began to fry from the 
yards through the gaskets into coach whips. My God ! 
to think that the wind could have such force ! 

Sir Hyde now sent me to see what was -the matter be- 
tween decks, as there was a good deal of noise. As 
soon as I was below, one of the Marine officers calls 
out : " Good God ! Blr. Archer, we are sinking, the 
water is up to the bottom of my cot." Pooh, pooh ! 
as long as it is not over your mouth, you are well oft*; 
What the devil do you make this noise for ? I found 
there was some water between decks, but nothing to be 
alarmed at: sculled the deck, and it run into the well ; 
found she made a good deal of water through the sides 
and decks ; turned the watch below to the pumps, 
though only two feet of water in the well ; but expected 



288 LOSS OP THE PHCENIX. 

to be kept constantly at work now, as the ship labored 
much, with scarcely a part of her aboye water but the 
quarterdeck, and that but seldom. Come, pump 
away, my boys. Carpenters, get the weather chain- 
pump rigged. All ready, Sir. Then man it, and keep 
both pumps going. 

At two o'clock the chain pump was choked; set the 
carpenters at work to clear it ; the two head pumps at 
work upon deck : the ship gained upon us while our 
chain pumps were idle ; in a quarter of an hour they 
were at work again, and we began to gain upon her. 
While I was standing at the pumps, cheering the people, 
the carpenter's mate came running to me with a face as 
long as my arm : O, Sir ! the ship has sprung a leak 
in the gunner's room. Go, then, and tell the carpenter 
to come to me, but do not speak a word to any one else. 
Mr. Goodinoh, I am told there is a leak in the gunner's 
room ; go and see what is the matter, but do not alarm 
any body, and come and make your report privately 
to me. In a short time he returned ; Sir, there is noth- 
ing there, it is only the water washing up between the 
timbers that this booby has taken for a leak. O, 
very well ; go upon deck and see if you can keep 
any of the water from washing down below. Sir, I 
have had four people constantly keeping the hatchways 
secure, but there is such a weight of water upon the 
deck that nobody can stand it when the ship rolls. 
The gunner soon afterwards came to me, saying, Mr. 
Archer, I should be glad if you would step this way into 
the magazine for a moment : — I thought some damned 
thing was the matter, and ran directly. — Well what is . 
the matter here ? He answered, the grou»? 1 tier of 
powder is spoiled, and I want to shew you that it is not 
out of carelessness in me in stowing it, for no powder in 
the world could be better stowed. Now, sir, what am I 
to do ? If you do not speak (o Sir Hyde, he will be 
angry with me. I could not forbear smdin^ to see how 
easy he took the danger of the ship, and baid to him, 
Let us shake off this gale of wind nre.r ; and talk of the 
damaged powder afterward*, 



LOSS OF THE PHQ3N1X. 289 

At four we had gained upon the ship a little, and I 
went upon deck, it being my watch. The second lieu- 
tenant relieved me at the pumps. Who can attempt to 
describe the appearance of things upon deck ? If I was 
to write for ever I could not give you an idea of it — a 
total darkness all above ; the sea on fire, running as it 
were in Alps, or Peaks of Teneriffe ; (mountains are 
too common an idea;) the wind roaring louder than 
thunder, (absolutely no flight of imagination,) the whole 
made more terrible, if possible, by a very uncommon 
kind of blue lightning ; the poor ship very much pressed, 
yet doing what she could, shaking her sides, and groan- 
ing at every stroke. Sir Hyde upon deck lashed to 
windward ! I soon lashed myself alongside of him, and 
told him the situation of things below, saying the ship 
did not make more water than might be expected in 
such weather, and that I was only afraid of a gun break- 
ing loos«. " I am not in the least afraid of that ; I have 
commanded her six years, and have had many a gale of 
wind in her ; so that her iron work, which always gives y 
way first is pretty well tried. Hold fast! that was an 
ugly sea ; we must lower the yards, I believe, Archer ; 
the ship is much pressed." If we attempt it, Sir, we shall 
lose them, for a man aloft can do nothing; besides their 
being down would ease the ship very little ; the main- 
mast is a sprung mast ; I wish it was overboard without 
carrying any thing else along with it ; but that can soon 
be done, the gale cannot last for ever ; 'twill soon be 
day-light now. Found by the master's watch that it 
was five o'clock, though but a little after four by ours ; 
glad it was so near day-light, and looked for it with 
much anxiety. Cuba, thou art much in our way ! An- 
other ugly sea : sent a midshipman to bring news from 
the pumps ; the ship was gaining on them very much, 
for they had broken one of thek chains, but it was 
almost mended again. News from the pump again. 
" She still gains ! a heavy lee !" Back water from lee- 
ward, half-way up the quarter-deck j filled one of the 
cutters upon the booms, and tore her all to pieces ; the 
ship lying almost on her beams gndL/and not attempting 
to right aeain. Word from below that riie ship still 
Aa 



290 LOS3 OF THE PIKENIX. 

gained on them, as they could not stand to the pumps, 
«Ht lay so much along. I said to Sir Hyde : This is 
no time, Sir, to think of saving the masts, shall we cut 
the main mast away ? " Aye ! as fast as you can." I 
accordingly went into the weather chains with a pole ax, 
to cut away the lanyards ; the boatswain went to leeward, 
and the carpenters stood by the mast. We were all 
ready, when a very violent sea broke right on board of 
us, carried every thing upon deck away, filled the ship 
with water, the main and mizen-masts went, the ship 
righted, but was in the last struggle of sinking un- 
der us. 

As soon as we could shake our heads above water, 
Sir Hyde exclaimed : " We are gone, at last, Archer ! 
foundered at sea !" Yes, Sir, farewell, and the Lord 
have mercy upon us ! I then turned about to look 
at the ship ; and thought she was struggling to get rid of 
some of the water ; but all in vain, she was almost full 
below. " Almighty God ! I thank thee, that now I am 
leaving this world, which I have always considered as 
only a passage to a better, I die with a full hope of thy 
mercies through the merits of Jesus Christ, thy son, our 
Saviour . f " 

i ihen felt sorry that I could swim, as by that means 
I might be a quarter cf an hour longer dying than a man 
who could not, and it is impossible to divest ourselves 
of a wish to preserve life. At the end of these reflec- 
tions I thought I heard the ship thump and grinding 
under our feet; it was so. Sir, the ship is ashore ! 
" What do you say ?" The ship is ashore, and we 
majr save ourselves yet ! By this time the quarter- 
deck was full of men who had come up from below ; 
and the Lord have mercy upon us, flying about from all 
quarters. The ship now made every body sensible that 
she was ashore, for every stroke threatened a total disso- 
lution of her whole frame ; found she was stern ashore, 
and the bow broke the sea a good deal, though it was 
washing clean over at every stroke. Sir Hyde cried 
out : " Keep to the quarter deck, my lads, when she 
goes to nieces it is your best chance !" Providentially got 



OF 



THE PHCENIX. 291 



the foremast cut away, that she might not pay round 
broad-side. Lost five men cutting away the forem»sr,- 
by the breaking of a sea on board just as the mast 
went. That was nothing ; every one expected it would 
be his own fate next ; looked for day- break with the 
greatest impatience. At last' it came ; but what a scene 
did it shew us ! The ship upon a bed of rocks, moun- 
tains of them on one side, and Cordilleras of water on 
the other ; our poor ship grinding and crying out at 
every stroke between them ; going away by piece-meal. 
However, to shew the unaccountable workings of Provi- 
dence, that which often appears to be the greatest evil, 
proves to be the greatest good ! That unmerciful 
sea lifted and beat us up so high among the rocks, 
that at last the ship scarcely moved. She was 
very strong, and did not go to pieces at the first 
thumping, though her decks tumbled in. We found 
afterwards that she had beat over a ledge of rocks, 
almost a quarter of a mile in extent beyond us, where 
if she had struck, every soul of us must have per- 
ished. 

I now began to think of getting on shore, so stripped 
off my coat and shoes for a swim, and looked for a 
line to carry the end with me. Luckily could not find 
one, which gave me time for recollection : " This won't 
do for me, to be the first man out of the ship, and first 
lieutenant ; we may get to England again, and people 
may think I paid a great deal of attention to myself, and 
did not care for any body else. No, that won't do ; in- 
stead of being the first, I'll see every man, sick and 
well, out of her before me." 

I now thought there was no probability of the ship's 
soon going to pieces, therefore had not a thought of 
instant death : took a look round with a kind of philo- 
sophic ej T e, to see how the same situation affected 
my companions, and was surprised to find the most 
swaggering, swearing bullies in fine weather, now the 
most pitiful wretches on earth, when death appeared be- 
fore them. However, two got safe ; by which means, 
with a line, we got a hawser on shore, and made fast 
to the rocks, upon which many ventured and arrived 



292 LOSS OP THE PHOENIX. 

safe. There were some sick and wounded on board, 
M h j could not avail themselves of this method ; we 
therefore, got a spare top-sail-yard from the chains 
and placed one end ashore and the other on the 
cabin window, so that most of the sick got ashore this 
way. 

As I had determined, so T was the last man out of 
the ship ; this was about ten o'clock. The gale now be- 
gaii to break. Sir Hyde came to me, and taking me 
by the hand was so affected that he was scarcely able to 
speak. " Archer, I am happy beyond expression, to 
see you on the shore, but look at our poor Phoenix !" I 
turned about, but could not say a single word, being 
too full : my mind had been too intensely occupied 
before ; but every thing now rushed upon me at once, 
so that I could riot contain myself, and I indulged for a 
full quarter of an hour. 

By twelve it was pretly moderate ; got some nails on 
shore and made tents ; found great quantities of fish 
driven up by the sea into holes of the rocks ; knocked 
up a fire, and had a most comfortable dinner. In the 
af:ernoon made a stage from the cabin windows to the 
rocks, and got out some provisions and water, lest the 
ship should go to pieces, in which case we must all have 
perished of hunger and thirst ; for we were upon a des- 
olate part of the coast, and under a rocky mountain, 
tkat could not supply us with a single drop of water. 

Slept comfortably this night, and the next day the idea 
of death vanishing by degrees, the prospect of being 
prisoners, during the war, at the Havannah, and walking 
three hundred miles to it through the woods, was rather 
unpleasant. However, to save life for the present, we 
employed this day in getting more provisions and water 
on shore, which was not an easy matter, on account of 
decks, guns, and rubbish, and ten feet water that lay 
over them. In the evening I proposed to Sir Hyde to 
repair the remains of the only boat left, and to venture 
in her to Jamaica myself; and in case I arrived safe, to 
bring vessels to take them all off ; a proposal worthy of 
consideration. It was next day agreed to ; therefore got 
tfce cutter ®n shore, and set the carpenters to work on 



LOSS OF THE PHGGNlX. 293 

her ; in two days she was ready, and at four o'clock in 
the afternoon I embarked with four volunteers and a. 
fortnight's provision ; hoisted English colors as we put 
off from shore, and received three cheers from the lad? 
left behind, and set sail with a light heart ; having not 
the least doubt, that, with God's assistance, we should 
come and bring them all off. Had a very squally night, 
and a very leaky boat, so as to keep two buckets con- 
stantly baling. Steered her myself the whole night by 
the stars, and in the morning saw the coast of Jamaica 
distant twelve leagues. At eight in the evening arrived 
at Montego Bay. 

I must now begin to leave off, particularly as I have 
but half an hour to conclude ; else my pretty little short 
letter will loose its passage, which I should not like, after 
being ten days, at different times, writing it, beating up 
with the convoy to the northward, which is a reason that 
this epistle will never read well ; for I never sat down 
with a proper disposition to go on with it ; but as I knew r 
something of the kind would please you, I was resolved 
to finish, it : yet it will not bear an overhaul ; so do not 
expose your son's nonsense. 

But to proceed — I instantly sent off an express to the 
Admiral, another to the Porcupine man of war, and went 
myself to Martha Bray to get vessels ; for all their ves- 
sels here, as well as many of their hoases, were gone to 
Moco. Got three small vessels, and set out back again to 
Cuba, where I arrived the fourth day after leaving my 
companions. I thought the ship's crew would have de^ 
voured me on my landing ; they presently whisked me 
up on their shoulders and carried me to the tent where 
Sir Hyde was. 

I must omit many little occurrences that happened on 
shore, for want of time ; but I shall have a number of 
stories to tell when I get alongside of you ; and the next 
time I visit you I shall not be in such a hurry to quit you 
as I was the last, for then I hoped my nest would have 
been pretty well feathered : — B$t my tale is forgotten. 

I found thtf Porcupine had arrived that day, and the 
lads had built a boat almost ready for launching, that 
would hold fifty of them, which was intended for anothev 
Aa2 



294 tOSS OF THE PHffiNIX. 

trial, in case I had foundered. Next day embarked all 
our people that were left, amounting to two hundred and 
fifty ; for some had died of their wounds they received 
in getting on shore ; others of drinking rum, and others 
had straggled into the country. All our vessels were so 
full of people, that we could not take away the few 
clothes that were saved from the wreck ; but that was a 
trifle since we had preserved our lives and liberty. To 
make short of my stoiy, we all arrived safe at Montego 
Bay, and shortly after at Port Royal, in the Janus, which 
was sent on purpose for us, and were all honorably ac- 
quitted for the loss of the ship. I was made admiral's 
aid de camp, and a little time afterwards sent down to 
St. Juan as captain of the Resource, to bring what were 
left of the poor devils to BJue Fields, on the Musquito 
shore, and then to Jamaica, where they arrived after 
three months absence, and without a prize, though I 
looked out hard off Porto Bello and Carthagena. Found 
in my absence that I had been appointed captain of the 
Tobago, where I remain his Majesty's most true and 
faithful servant, and my dear mother's most dutiful son. 

ARCHER. 



235- 



THE SUFFERINGS QF 



ROBERT SCOTNEY, 



Second Mate of the Brig Thomas, Captain, Gardner, 
who survived by himself Seventy-Five days in a 
perfect Wreck, in tlie year 1803. * 

X HE extraordinary case of Robert Scotney, a 
native of Spalding, in Lincolnshire, was communicated 
as follows, in a letter from Mr. Paulin, the fourth officer 
of the Europe, to his father, dated, 

" Madras Roads, Sept. 8, 1803. 

" On the ?9th June, about half past eight, A. M. we 
saw a small boat on our starboard bow, which upon near- 
ing, we discovered to have only one sail set, and other- 
wise a perfect wreck. No one was observed to be on 
her deck, until, upon hailing her, a wretched object 
presented himself, apparently in a most distressed situ- 
ation, and in the posture of imploring our assistance. 
A boat was immediately sent on board her, with Mr, 
Mackeson, the second officer, who returned with him, 
having sent the wreck adrift. 

" By the poor man's account, it seems he sailed from 
London as second mate of the brig Thomas, of London, 
commanded by captain Gardner, belonging to Broderick, 
and Co. of Wapping, on the 4th of March, 1802, bound 
to the Southern Oeean, on the whale-fishery. That, 
after touching at several places on their outward bound 
voyage, they arrived at Staten-Xsland, where they con- 



296 SUFFERINGS OF 

tinued six or seven months, and got about seven or eight 
hundred skins. In the course of that time they rose 
upon her long-boat, lengthened and decked her, and 
converted her into a shallop, of which they gave him the 
command, and put three other seamen on board under 
him, with orders to accompany tlje brig to the island of 
Georgia, situated in about latitude 54 deg. 30. min. S. 
long. 30 deg. 40 min. W. ; where they were bound, to 
procure seals and sea-elephants. They accordingly left 
Staten-Island the end of January, in company with the 
brig, and after a passage of eleven days, arrived at the 
island of Georgia, where they remained about two 
months, and left it in the beginning of April — their own 
• and another brig (the John, of Boston) in company — 
and stood for the island of Tristan de Cunha, situated, 
by Dairy mple's charts, in lat. 37 deg. 22 min. long. 13 
deg. 17 min. W. 

" On the 14th of April they parted from their consort 
in a heavy gale of wind. He lost his three hands, who 
were washed overboard by a tremendous sea, from 
which he himself narrowly escaped, having a moment 
before gone below for a knife to cut away some rigging 
At that time he had on board only three pounds and a 
half of meat, three pounds of flour, six pounds of bread, 
and two hogsheads of water, which were all more or less 
damaged by the gale ; some whale-oil remaining at the 
bottom of the casks, a small quantity of salt, and some 
tobacco. On this scanty pittance, and without any 
means of dressing even that, he prolonged his existence 
for the surprising period of Seventy-Five days ! 

" He likewise emptied a medicine-chest he had on 
board, and got out of it some burning medicines, which 
he found made his body a little comfortable and warm, 
as he never had his clothes off. He was almost con- 
stantly wet. 

" When we fell in with him he was shaping his course 
for the Cape of Good Hope, having missed the island of 
Tristan de Cunha, to which it was his intention to have 
proceeded for the purpose of rejoining his consort, 
whom he expected to have found there. His debility 
was, however, so great, that he had been for several 



ROBERT SCQTKEY. 297 

days previous incapable of going into the hold of his 
vessel for what little sustenance then remained, or of 
shifting his helm should a change of wind have happened. 

" He then lived mostly on tobacco, which he took an 
amazing quantity of; and when he came on board, both 
his cheeks were swelled out amazingly with the ruinous 
quantity he had in his mouth, and which he seamed to 
suck with convulsive agony. 

" The appearance of this poor wretch, when he was 
hauled up the side (for he could not walk,) deeply affect- 
ed every one : he had entirely lost the use of his ex- 
tremities — his countenance was pallid and emaciated ; 
and it was the opinion of our surgeon that he could not 
have prolonged his existence two days longer. 

" It is not necessary ta enlarge upon the thankfulness 
of ihe poor fellow for his preservation, or that he expe- 
rienced every possible assistance which his situation 
required, and which, I make no doubt, you will hear 
with pleasure, proved successful." 

Further confirmations of this account were received 
by Messrs. Peter and William Hellish, on the 10th of 
March, 1804, from Captain Gilson, of their ship Eu- 
rope, on his voyage to Madras. Another letter from 
Mr. Pattison gave nearly the same statement as above, 
with the addition of what is truly characteristic of Brit- 
ish seamen, that the sailors of the Europe raised a purse 
for the poor fellow ef one handred and fifteen guineas, 



zn 



TflE SUFFERINGS 

OF EPHRAIM HOW, 



? Nen-llaven, who set sail for Boston in a small 
Ketch, which on its return was wrecked near 
Cape Sable, in the Year U76. 



VlN the 25th of August, 1676, Mr. Ephraim 
How, of New-Haven, in New England, with his two 
eldest sons ; one Mr. Augur ; Caleb Jones, son to Mr. 
"William Jones, one of the magistrates of New-Haven ; 
and a boy ; six persons in all ; set sail from New- 
Baven for Boston, in a small ketch, of about seven- 
teen tons. 

Having despatched his business there, he sailed for 
New Haven on the 10th of September, but wa3 forced 
back to Boston by contrary winds. Here Mr. How was 
seized with a violent flux, which continued nearly a 
month ; many being at that time sick, and some dying 
of the same. 

Being in some degree restored to health, he again 
sailed from Boston, October 10. They went With a 
wind as far as Cape Cod : but on a sudden the weather 
became very tempestuous, so that they could not pass 
the Cape, but were driven off to sea, where they were 
in great danger, experiencing terrible storms, with out- 
rageous winds and seas. 

His eldest son fell sick and died about the 21st; soon 
after his other son was taken ill and died also. This 
was a bitter cup to the poor father, for these youths 
were his only assistance in working the vessel. Soon 
after Caleb Jones died, so that half the company were 
now no more. 



SUFFERINGS OF EPHRAIM HOW. 29$ 

Mr. How continued in a very sickly and weak state, 
yet was necessitated to stand at the helm twenty-four 
and thirty-six hours together. During this time the sea 
was so boisterous as frequently to break over the vessel, 
and if he had not been lashed fast he must have been 
washed overboard. In this extremity, he was at a loss 
in his own thoughts, whether he should persist in endeav- 
oring to make for the New-England shore, or bear away 
for the Southern Islands. Upon his proposing the ques- 
tion to Mr. Augur, they determined, according to the 
custom of some in those times, to decide this difficult 
case by casting lots. They did so, and it fell upon 
New England. 

Nearly about the 7th of November they lost their 
rudder, so that now their only dependance was Hf>on 
Providence. In this deplorable state they drove up and 
down for a fortnight longer. During the last six weeks, 
the poor infirm Mr. How was hardly ever dry, nor 
had he the benefit of warm food above thrice or there- 
abouts. 

At length, about the 21st of November, early in the 
morning, the vessel was driven on the tailings of a ledge 
♦of rocks, where the sea broke violently. Looking out, 
they saw a dismal rocky island to the leeward, upon 
which, if Providence had not by the breakers given 
them timely warning, they had been dashed to pieces. 
They immediately let go an anchor, and got out the 
boat, and the sea became calm. The boat proving leaky, 
and they bejng in great terror they took but little out of 
the ketch, but got on shore as they could. 

Here they could discover neither man nor beast. It 
was a small, rocky, desolate island, near Cape Sable, 
the Southern extremity of Nova-Scotia. They now 
appeared to be in great danger of being starved to death, 
but the storm returning, beat so violently upon the ves- 
sel, as it still lay at anchor, that it* was stove to pieces, 
and several things floated to the shore. 

The following articles were all they had towards their 
future support : — A cask of gunpowder, which received 
no damage from the water ; a bane! of wine ; half a 
bafrel of molasses ; and several useful articles towards 



300 SUFFERINGS OF EPHRAIM HOW. 

building a tent : all the above drifted from the wreck ; 
besides which they had, fire arms and shot ; a pot for 
boiling ; and most probably other things not mentioned 
in the narrative. 

Their tent was soon erected, for the cold was now 
getting severe, but new and great distresses attended them, 
for though they had arms and ammunition, there were 
seldom any fowls to be seen, except crows, ravens, and 
sea-gulls. These were so few, that they could seldom 
shoot more tljan one at a time. Many times half a 
fowl, with the liquor it was boiled in, served for a meal 
for all three. Once they lived five days without any sus- 
tenance, but did not feel themselves pinched with hun- 
ger as at other times ; which they esteemed a special 
favor of heaven unto them. 

When they had lived in this miserable condition 
twelve weeks, Mr. How's dear friend and companion, 
Mr. Augur, died, about the middle of February, 1677 ; 
so that he had none left to converse with but the lad, 
who likewise departed on the 2d of April. 

Mr. How was now the sole inhabitant of this desolate 
gpot during April, May, and June, and saw fishing ves- m 
sets, every now and then, sailing by ; some of which 
came even nearer to the island than that which at last 
took him off. He used all the means in his power to 
make them acquainted with his distress ; but they either 
did not see bim, or were afraid to approach close to the 
island, lest some of those Indians should be quartered 
there, who were at that time in hostility against the 
English, viz. the North-East Indians, who held out after 
the death of the famous Philip, king of the Wompanags. 

At length a vessel belonging to Salem, in New-Eng- 
land, providentially passed by, and seeing this poor fel- 
low, they sent their boat on shore, and took him away. 
Ke had been on this island more than seven months, and 
above a quarter of a year by himself. On the 18th of 
July he arrived at Salem, and at -last returned to his 
family at New-Haven. They for twelve months had sup- 
posed him dead : by which it appears he did not get 
home till the end of Aug'.st, or perhaps later. 



501 



LOSS OF HIS 



MAJESTY'S SHIP LA TRIBUNE, 

Off Halifax, (Nova Scotia J November, 1797. 



JLiA Tribune was one of the finest frigates in 
kis Majesty's navy, mounted 44 guns, and had recently 
been taken from the French by Captain Williams in the 
Unicorn frigate. She was commanded by Capt. S. Bar- 
ker, and on the 22d of September, 1797, sailed from 
Torbay as convoy to the Quebec and Newfoundland 
fleets. In latitude 49 deg. 14 min. longitude 17 deg. 
22 min. she fell in and spoke with his Majesty's ship Ex- 
periment, from Halifax ; and lost sight of all her con- 
voy on the 10th of October, in latitude 74 deg. 16 min. 
longitude 32 deg. 11 inin. 

About eight o'clock in the morning of the following 
Thursday they came in sight of the harbor of Halifax, 
and approached it very fast, with an E. S. E. wind, when 
Captain Barker proposed to the master to lay the ship to, 
till they could procure a pilot. The master replied, 
that he had beat a 44 gun ship into the harbor, that he 
had frequently been there, and there was no occasion 
for a pilot, as the wind was fovorable. Confiding in 
these assurances, Captain Barker went into his cabin, 
where he was employed in arranging some papers which 
he intended to take on shore with him. In the mean 
time the master, placing great dependance on the judg- 
ment of a negro, named John Casey, who had former- 
ly belonged to Halifax, took upon himself the pilotage 
of the ship. By twelve o'clock the ship had approach- 
ed so near the Thrum Cap shoals mat the master be- 
Bb 



502 LOSS OF THE LA TRIBUNE. 

came alarmed, and sent for Mr. Galvin, master's mate, 
who was sick below. On his coming upon deck, he 
heard the man in the chains sing out, " by the mark 
five !" the black man forward at the same time crying, 
< : steady !" Galvin got on one of the carronades to ob- 
serve the situation of the ship ; the master ran, in great 
agitation, to the wheel, and took it from the man who 
was steering, with the intention of wearing the ship ; 
but before this could be effected, or Galvin was able to 
give an opinion, she struck. Captain Barker immedi- 
ately went on deck and reproached the master with hav- 
ing lost the ship. Seeing Galvin likewise on deck, he 
addressed him, and said, " that, knowing he had for- 
merly sailed out of the harbour, he was surprised he 
could stand by and see the master run the ship on 
shore ;" to which Galvin replied, "that he had not beea 
on deck long enough to give an opinion." 

Signals of distress were instantly made, and answer- 
ed by the military posts and ships in the harbor, from 
which, as well as the dock-yard, boats immediately put 
off to the relief of the Tribune. The military boats, 
and one of those from the dock yard, with Mr. Rack- 
um, boatswain of the Ordinary, reached the ship, but 
the wind was so much against the others, that, in spite 
of all their exertions, they were unable to get on board. 
The ship was immediately lightened by throwing over- 
board all her guns, excepting one retained for signals, 
and every other heavy article, so that about half past 
eight o'clock in the evening the ship began to heave, 
and at nine got off the shoals. She had lost her rudder 
about three hours before, and it was now found, on ex- 
amination, that she had seven feet water in her hold. 
The chain-pumps were immediately manned, and such 
exertions were made, that they seemed to gain on the 
leaks. By the advice of Mr. Rackum, the captain or- 
dered the best bower anchor to be let go, but this did 
not bring her up. He then ordered the cable to be 
cut ; and the jib and fore top-mast stay sail were hoisted 
to steer by. During this interval a violent gale, which 
had come on at S. E. kept increasing, and carrying the 
ship to the western shore. The small bower-anchor wa« 



LOSS OP THE LA TRIBUNE. 30o 

soon afterwards let so ; at which time they found them- 
selves in thirteen fathom water, and the mizen-mast was 
then cut away. 

It was now ten o'clock, and as the wafer gained fast 
upon them, the crew had but little hope left of saving 
either the ship or their lives. At this critical period 
Lieutenant Campbell quitted the ship, and Lieutenant 
North was taken into the boat out of one of the ports. 
From the moment at which (he former left the vessel all 
hopes of safety had vanished ; the ship was sinking fast, 
the storm was increasing with redoubled violence, and 
the rocky shore which they were approaching, resound- 
ing with the tremendous noise of the rolling billows, 
presented nothing to those who might survive the loss 
of the ship but the expectation of a more painful death, 
by being dashed against precipices, which, even in the 
calmest day, it is impossible to ascend Dunlap, one 
of the survivors, declared, that about half past ten, as 
nearly as he could conjecture, one of the men who had 
been below, came to him on the forecastle, and told 
him it was all over. A few minutes afterwards the ship 
took a lurch, like a boat nearly filled with water and 
going down ; on which Dunlap immediately began to 
ascend the fore-shrouds, and at the same moment cast- 
ing his eyes towards the quarter deck, he saw Captain 
Barker standing by the gangway, and looking into the 
water, and directly afterwards he heard him call for the 
jolly-boat. He then saw the lieutenant of marines run- 
ning towards the taffrel, to look, as he supposed, for 
the jolly-boat, which had been previously let down with 
men in her ; but the ship instantly took a second lurch 
and sunk to the bottom, after which neither the captain 
nor any of the others officers were again seen. 

The scene, before sufficiently distressing, now became 
peculiarly awful. More than 240 men, besides several 
women and children, were floating on the waves, mak- 
ing the last effort to preserve life. Dunlap, who has 
been already mentioned, gained the fore-top. Mr. Cal- 
vin, the master's mate, with incredible difficulty, got 
into the main top. He was below when the ship sunk, 
directing the men at the chain-pump, but w»5s washed 



3.94 LOSS OF THE LA TRIBUNE. 

up the hatchwaj^, thrown into the waist, and from thcne* 
kito the water, and his feet, as he plunged, struck 
against a rock. On ascending he swam to gain the 
main-shrouds, when three men suddenly seized hold of 
him. He now gave himself up for lost ; but to disen- 
gage himself from them he made a dive into the water, 
which caused them to quit their grasp. On rising again 
he swasn to the shrouds, arid having reached the maia 
top, seated himself on an arm chest which was lashed to 
the ma^t. 

From the observations of Galvin in the main top, and 
Dunlap in the fore-top, it appears that nearly one hun- 
dred persons were hanging. a considerable time to the 
shrouds, the tops, and other parts of the wreck. From 
the length of the night, and the severity of the storm, 
nature, however, became exhausted, and during the 
whole night they kept dropping off and disappearing. 
The cries and groans of the unhappy sufferers, from 
the bruises many of them had received, and their hopes 
of deliverance beginning to fail, were continued through 
the night ; but as morning approached, in consequence 
of the few who then survived, they became extremely 
feeble. 

About twelve o'clock the main mast gave way ; at 
that time there were on the main-top and shrouds about 
forty persons. By the fall of the mast the whole of 
these unhappy wretches were again plunged into the wa- 
ter, and ten only regained the top, which rested on the 
main yard, and the whole remained fast to the ship by 
some of the rigging. Of the ten who thus reached the 
top, four only were alive when morning appeared. Ten 
were at that time alive on the fore-top, but three were so 
exhausted, and so helpless, that they were washed 
away before any relief arrived ; three others perished, 
and thus only four were, at last, left alive on the 
fore- top. 

The place where the ship went down was barely 
three times her length to the southward of the entrance 
into Herring Cove. The inhabitants came down in the 
night to the. point opposite to which the ship sunk, kept 



LOSS OF THE LA TRIBUNE. 305 

up large fires, and were so near as to converse with the 
people on the wreck. 

The first exertion that was made for their relief was 
by a boy thirteen years old, from Herring Cove, who 
ventured off in a small skiff by himself about eleven 
o'clock the next day. This youth, with great labor and 
extreme risk to himself, boldly approached the wreck, 
and backed in his litttle boat so near to the fore-top as 
to take off two of the men, for the boat could not with 
safety hold any more. And here a trait of generous 
magnanimity was exhibited, which ought not to pass 
unnoticed. Dunlap and another man, named Monro,, 
had, throughout this disastrous night, , preserved their 
strength and spirits in a greater degree than their unfor- 
tunate companions, whom they endeavored to cheer 
and encourage when they found their spirits sinking. 
Upon the arrival of the boat these two might have step- 
ped into it, and thus have terminated their own suffer- 
ings ; for their two companions, though alive, were 
unable to stir ; they lay exhausted on the top, wishing 
not to be disturbed; and seemed desirous to perish in> 
that situation. These generous fellows hesitated not a 
moment: to, remain themselves on the wreck, and to. 
gave their unfortunate companions against their will. 
They lifted- them up, and; with the greatest exertion 
placed; them in the little skiff; the manly boy rowed 
them triumphantly to the Cove, and immediately had 
them conveyed to a comfortable habitation.. After sham- 
ing, by his example, older persons, who had larger 
boats, he again put off with his- skiff, but with all his 
efforts he could not then approach the wreck. His ex- 
ample, however, was soon followed by four of the 
crew who had escaped in the Tribune's jolly-boat, and 
by some of the boats in the Cove. With their joint ex- 
ertions the eight men were preserved, and these, with 
the four who had saved themselves in the jolly-boat, 
were the whole of the survivors of this fine ship's com- 
pany. 

A circumstance occurred, in which that cool thought- 
lessness of danger, which so often distinguishes the 
British tars, was displayed in such a striking manner, 
B b 2 



303 LOSS 6P THE LA TRIBUNE. 

that it would be inexcusable to omit it. Daniel Monre, 
as we have already seen, had gained the fore-top. He 
suddenly disappeared, and it was concluded he had 
been washed away like mahy others. After being ab- 
sent from the top about two hours, he, to the surprise 
of Dunlap, who was likewise on the fore-top, raised his 
head through the lubber-hole. Dunlap inquiring where 
he had been, he told him he had been cruizing for a 
better birth ; that after swimming about the wreck a 
considerable time, he had returned to the fore-shrouds, 
and crawling in on the cat-harpins, had actually been 
sleeping there more than an hour, and appeared greatly 
refreshed. 



m 



THE SHIPWRECK OF 

CAPTAIN GEORGE ROBERTS, 

In his Passage from Virginia io the coast of Guinea^ 
in the Year 1721. 

J\ UMEROUS are the disasters to which mari- 
ners are exposed, and the fortitude with which many of 
them have undergone the most mournful reverses of 
fortune, teaches an useful lesson of patience or resig- 
nation, and shews what man is capable of acting or suf- 
fering. 

Captain Roberts, who had been bred to the sea, in 
the year 1721 entered into a contract with several mer- 
chants of London, to sail to Virginia, and there to load 
with a cargo for the Guinea trade. Having purchased 
slaves to the amount of his investments^ he was to pro- 
ceed with them either to Barbadoes or Virginia, as he 
found most likely to be conducive to the interest of his 
employers ; and having disposed of his live freight, he 
was to load with the produce of the country, for the 
London market. This was a complex and tedious en- 
terprise, and fortune forbade that it should be more than 
partially accomplished. Captain Roherts indeed reached 
Virginia, and purchased a sloop and suitable cargo, with 
which he steered towards the Cape de Verd Islands ; but 
here calamities and distress overtook him. 

Near St. Nichols, one of those islands, he fell into the 
hands of pirates, who finding him a man of spirit and 
intrepidity, anxiously strove to unite him in the same 
nefarious confederacy. These attempts he steadily re* 



308 SHIPWRECK OP 

sisted ; but his unhappy situation rendered it necessary 
to conform more than he seems to have done with their 
humors and prejudices. One of the commanders 
among the pirates treated him with much indulgence, 
probably from a wish to draw him into his lure. By the 
interest of this person he was to be allowed to go on 
board his own -ship, and to be supplied with some ne- 
cessaries ; but, unfortunately refusing to drink the Pre- 
tender's health, which surely must l>ave been a very 
yenial offence, circumstanced as he was, one of the 
piratical captains threatened to shoot him through the 
head ; and after having insulted him in the most inhu- 
man manner, barbarously forced him on board his own 
vessel at midnight, without provisions, water, or sails, 
and with only two boys to assist in the navigation, one 
of whom was not more than eight years of age. He 
was not even allowed a light, and his ship being leaky, 
darkness was doubly horrible 

That men of the most abandoned characters should so 
far forget what humanity is due to their fellow men, as 
to expose any one to almost certain destruction, merely 
on account of a foolish toast, may excite the astonish- 
ment of the reflecting; nor, perhaps, shall we wonder 
much less at the romantic resolution of Captain Roberts, 
who braved death rather than submit to an insignificant 
form. Sullen obstinacy is sometimes dignified wilh the 
title of heroic constancy, and many have been esteem- 
ed martyrs in a good cause, who only fell sacrifices to 
their own perverse dispositions, or unsubmitting tempers. 
We wish to establish the distinction between essentials 
and forms ; between voluntary and compulsive deeds. 
No external compliances can change the mind : Religion 
and Loyalty, enthroned in the heart, may defy the ma- 
lice of man. 

Thus abandoned to his fate, and with a mind composed 
and resigned, Captain Roberts first set about pumping 
hi* vessel, by the assistance of the elder boy. Having 
pretty well gained on the water, day-light appeared, when 
lie saw the full extent of his miserable situation. The 
unfeeling wretches who turned him adrift, had left him. 
scarcely any thing to support life. On rummaging the 



CAPTAIN ROBERTS. 3Q9 

vessel, he found only a few crumbs of bread, ten gallons 
of rum, a little rice, and some flour, with two gallons of 
water. . .. . 

With much labor he patched up a kind of sail in three 
days time, during which space himself and his two youth- 
ful companions fed on raw flour and rice, drinking noth- 
ing but rum. But the heat of the climate and the fa- 
tigues to which they were exposed, rendering this kind 
of food unwholesome, they made cakes of dough with 
the little water they had left ; but this operation exhaust- 
ing their stock, they soon felt the extremes of drought, 
which spirits could not assuage. 

Providence now favored them with a plentiful shower 
of rain, with which they quenched their thirst, and saved 
about a gallon over. 

Small as their stock of provisions was, they husband- 
ed it with so much care, that with the addition of a shark 
which they caught, it lasted them for three weeks. 
When famine began to stare them in the face, they had 
the good fortune to discover the Isle of St. Anthony ; 
but before they could reach the landing-place, darkness 
set in, and they determined to- wait in anxious expecta- 
tion of the day. Thirst, however, was so pressing, that 
the eider boy solicited permission to go on shore for a 
little water in a small boat, and to return directly. 

No sooner was he gone, than Captain Roberts, worn 
out with fatigue, was taken ill, and retiring to his cabin, 
insensibly dropped asleep. At midnight he waked, and 
running on deck, to his extreme distress, found the ship 
almostout of sight of land. Astonished and afflicted at 
this misfortune, "he began to lose all hopes of recovering 
the shore without the assistance of his companion ; and 
to aggravate his misery, the ship was making water very 
fast, and the anchor was out, which he had not strength 
to haul up. 

The danger of sinking being most imminent, he ap- 
plied himself to the pump, and in a few hours sucked it 
dry. His ne^t labor was to heave the anchor on board j 
and in this, too, he succeeded beyond his first hopes. 
Parched with thirst, and without a drop of water, he 
now endeavored to regain the island, and at last cast an- 
chor in a sandy bay. 



310 SHIPWRECK OP 

The same evening some negroes came to his assistance, 
bringing with them a very seasonable supply of water. 
This raised his drooping spirits ; and by the help of these 
poor people, who had been engaged by the boy on shore, 
lie attempted to steer the ship into the port of Parraghesi. 
In the night, the main sail split, which so daunted the 
negroes, that they instantly took to their boat, leaving 
Mr. Roberts in a more forlorn situation than ever. 

Next day, while he was exerting himself to steer the 
vessel to land, he heard the voices of some people in 
the hold, and found three of the negroes, who had been 
left dead drunk by their companions, from applying them- 
selves too freely to the rum, and were now just recover- 
ing their senses. These people giving themselves up for 
lest, when they discovered their situation, at first would 
lend him no assistance ; but on a little reflection, and 
finding they were near St John's, they began to labor 
for their preservation. One of them pretended to know 
the harbor ; but when he approached the shore, he wa3 
utterly at a loss, and insisted on running the vessel on 
the rocks. 

In this dilemma Captain Roberts threatened to despatch 
the first person who should attempt this desperate deed, 
on which the pretended pilot leaped overboard and swam 
to land. Soon after the .Captain hauled In so close to 
Punto de Sal, that he could almost leap on shore, and in 
this siiuatiou the other negroes left him. 

That night several of the natives made their appear- 
ance on the roeks, and next morning swam to the ship, 
congratulated Captain Roberts on his arrival, and offered 
him any assistance in their power, if he would go on 
shore. Unfortunately he could not swim, and for the 
present was obliged" to remain on board : but the natives 
made his situation more comfortable, by bringing him 
fish and other provisions. 

The succeeding day the weather looked threatening, 
and Mr. Roberts was justly afraid of being driven out to 
sea. The negroes kindly interested themselves in his 
preservation, and after trying in vain to fasten a rope to 
the rocks, offered to swim with him and his boy to land. 
Unwilling, however, to quit the ghip while a hope re- 



CAPTAIN ROBERTS. 3.11 

jnained of saving her, he resolved to persevere ; but the 
next day, in spite of all his efforts, the storm drove her 
on the rocks, which pierced her bottom. The water 
now rising rapidly, the affrighted negroes left him ; but 
as soon as the storm abated, they returned and swam 
pff with the boy. The Captain now consented to leave 
the vessel, when two of them taking him by the arms, 
bid him be of good courage, for St. Anthony would pro- 
tect him. However, they had not proceeded half way, 
when a surge parted one of his assistants, and had not a 
third instantly supplied his place, this unhappy man must 
have been lost. At last he reached the land, and soon 
saw his vessel part asunder, while the natives employed 
themselves in swimming backwards and forwards to the 
wreck, to save what articles they could. 

Thus was the captain hapily rescued from a boisterous 
sea, and the attentions of the natives were exerted to 
dissipate all reflections on his still distressful situation. 
They made a fire to warm him and dry his clothes, 
and expressed their admiration of his fortitude and per- 
severance. 

The governor, too, hearing of his misfortune, sent 
the most humane offers of assistance ; and he was now 
well supplied with milk and fruit. But with all the alle- 
viations of humanity, not only the perils he had just 
escaped, but his present situation filled him with awe and 
apprehension. He was now fixed on ashelf of rocks, un- 
der the covert of others which impended over his head. 
These rose to an amazing height ; and it was not with- 
out great danger that the friendly natives descended such 
frightful precipices to his assistance, which it was impos- 
sible for him to climb ; and as he could not swim, as 
they did, to a landing-place, his immediaie prospects 
were those only of prolonged misery. 

In this place Mr Roberts and his boy had continued 
for several days, sliil visited by the natives, who exert- 
ed themselves with increasing benevolence to relieve 
him. Among those who now came off to him, was a 
man, who, to his surprise, addressed him in English. On 
inquiry what c iuki bring him here, he said his name 
was Frankli «, that hi was a native of Wales, and after 



$V2 SHIPWRECK OF 

having been some time detained by pirates, had found 
means to escape and to reach this island. 

The conversation of Franklin gave Captain Roberts 
much consolation ; and he indulged the hopes of having 
the only boat belonging to the island sent round to take 
him off ; but as it did not arrive at the expected time, 
he became impatient, and resolved to attempt to climb 
the rocks, by the assistance of the friendly natives. 

With extreme difficulty he ascended half-way up the 
first rock, some hundred feet, when looking down, his 
head grew giddy with the honid view, and, had he not 
been supported, he must have been dashed to pieces, 
by falling to the bottom. At last he reached the first 
landing place : from thence he proceeded about three 
quarters of a mile in a narrow path, open towards the 
sea, and sometimes found it so contracted as barely to 
allow him footing. His guides, however, assisted him 
with poles over the most difficulty places ; but at last 
they came to an ascenl almost perpendicular, when two 
of the negroes striking a crag, to try if it was fixed, a 
huge fragment tumbled over them, and from the noise 
it raised, Roberts expected that the cliffs above would 
instantly fall upon them, and involve them in undistin- 
guished ruin. 

When this alarm was over, they concerted measures 
for farther operations ; and finding it impossible for Rob- 
erts to climb the remaining space, his guides descended 
with him in an oblique direction, to the bottom, with- 
out any accident. The fatigue he had undergone threw 
him into a fever, which lasted near a month ; but still 
he had the happiness to experience the unwearied assi- 
duities of the natives ; and on his recovery found the 
boat ready to receive him, when he departed and safely 
reached the harbor. 

Unable to walk or support himself, he was fastened 
upon the governor's horse, and in that state conducted 
to his house. This gentleman, in a manner honorable 
to his feelings, sympathized with Captain Robert's dis- 
tresses, and after some time, he was mvited to take up 
his residence with the son of a former governor, who 
received him with the pleasure of a friend. Meanwhile 



CAPTAIN ROBERTS, 313 

the natives continued their attentions, and daily supplied 
him with various presents. As soon as Roberts was 
able to walk abroad, he returned the visits of those 
kind people, and amused himself in joining their hunt- 
ing parties. That, the breed of wild goats may not be 
destroyed, no one is allowed to hunt without the govern- 
or's consent, and this is one of the principal privileges 
he enjoys. 

With the mildest disposition and most benevolent in- 
tentions, the natives appeared to be the most ignorant 
and superstitious. They had a negro priest who officiated 
among them, but his learning and understanding were 
nearly on a level with those of his flock. 

St. John's island, where Captain Roberts landed, is 
situated in 15 deg. 25 min. north latitude, and is very 
high and rocky. It produces amazing quantities of salt- 
petre in several natural caverns, where it hangs like 
icicles, or forms a crust like hoar frost. 

By the favor of the governor, Captain Roberts set 
about building a boat to carry him thence, and having 
saved several of the materials from the vessel whicb 
was wrecked, the business was carried on with spirit. 
The idea of visiting his native land, inspired Roberts 
with resolution to persevere in this arduous undertaking, 
and his operations were well seconded by the friendship 
and attachment of the islanders. It is impossible to do 
adequate justice to their general conduct and zealous 
good services in favor of the English ; and though ship- 
wreck, in such a situation, where he was cut off from all 
hopes of deliverance, except by his own endeavors, 
must have been painful enough ; yet it appears that he 
.could not have been more fortunate than in falling into 
the hands of such a gentle race cf men. 

The boat being completed in the best manner that cir- 
cumstances would allow of, and supplied with an ade- 
quate stock of provisions, Captain Roberts devoted a 
few days to make his thankful acknowledgments to the 
natives, who desired no olher reward "but his favorable 
report of them to his countrymen; and having taken his 
leave, he embarked, with his boj , two negro mariners, 
who belonged to St. Nicholas, and three of these islai*- 
Cc 



314 SHIPWRECK OF 

ders ; Franklin choosing to remain in Ins present situa- 
tion. 

The evening after they sailed, they came to St. Phil- 
lips, and landing next morning were courteously receiv- 
ed. Here they lell in with a person who had the title of 
Proanador of St. Johns, and who wanted to go to that 
island. The boat being found inconvenient for a voyage 
of any length, this gentleman proposed to Captain Rob- 
erts to return with him to St. Johns, and to carry with ' 
him some artificers, who would soon equip his little ves- 
sel in a more commodious manner. This offer was very 
grateful, and as several other persons wished to visit that 
island, Captain Roberts accommodated them with a pas* 
sage, for which he received an adequate recompense. 

The same day that they weighed from St. Phillips 
they reached St. Johns, to the great satisfaction of all 
the passengers and crew, some of whom being unac- 
customed to nautical expeditions, plumed themselves 
not a little on the voyage they had made. 

The natives shewed our countrymen the same humane 
and friendly attention as before ; and by the assistance 
of the carpenters they had brought from St. Phillips, the 
boat was much improved and better adopted for any na- 
vigation. 

Having carried back the artificers, Captain Roberts 
sailed for St. Jago, and continued trading for some time 
among the different islands, carrying provisions to Mayo, 
zm\ loading back with salt ; till at length, being at St. 
Nicholas, his boat was staved to pieces on the rocks, 
while himself and crew were on shore. The inhabitants, 
however, as at St. Johns, gave him the most convincing 
proofs of their beneficence, and purchased the fragments 
of his boat for twelve dollars. 

Once more reduced to the necessity of attempting 
some new expedient, or of remaining where he was, 
the prospects of our author began to brighten before he 
could come to any resolution of his own. An English 
vessel arrived, commanded by Captain Karfpoi, who 
intended to trade among those islands for clothes, and 
then to proceed to Barbadoes. This officer finding Cap- 
«ain Roberts likely to promote the objects cf commerce 



CAPTAIN ROBERTS. 315 

he had in view, made overtures to him for entering into 
the scheme ; a proposal which was gladly accepted by 
the Captain. 

They visited Bona Vista, Mayo, and St. Jago. In 
the harbor of Port Praya, in the latter island, they found, 
an English ship from Guinea, freighted by the Portuguese 
merchants. She had lost the greatest part of her crew, 
and having a voyage still to perform, her captain was 
anxious to engage the services of Roberts ; and the 
hope of finding his way to England much earlier than he 
could otherwise have done, prevailed on him to detach 
himself from Captain Harfoot, and to embrace the pres- 
ent offer. 

Having embarked in this ship, they had scarcely left 
St. Jago, when the most dangerous leaks were discover- 
ed, and as the trade winds would not permit them to re- 
turn to the Cape de Verd Islands, they had no alterna- 
tive but to bear away for Barbadoes, which island they 
reached on Christmas-day, 1724. 

At this place the ship was completely repaired, and 
after a stay of three months in that island, they again di- 
rected their course to Lisbon, where Captain Roberts 
eagerly seized the first opportunity of obtaining a passage 
to London, which he reached in June, 1725, after an 
uniform series of distresses and disappointments, during 
a period of four years. 

Our author gives a general description of the Cape de 
Verd Islands, which might probably have contained 
some novelty at the period he wrote, but at this time it 
could afford little amusement to our readers. 

Captain Roberts appears to have been a man of forti- 
tude and probity; but he is no farther known than as he 
delineates himself in the unfortunate adventures from 
which we have compiled this account. 



316 



I 



NARRATIVE OP THE LOSS OF THE 

EARL OP ABERGAVENNY, EAST-INDIAMAN, 

Captain John JVadsivorlh, which drove on the Shambles, 

off Vie Bill of Portland, and sunk in twelve 

fathoms water, February 5 , 1805. 



Tl: 



. HE universal concern oceasioned by the recent 
loss of the Ea?l of Abergavenny, has induced us to lay 
before our readers an accurate statement of this melan- 
choly disaster, chiefly collected from the accounts which 
were given at the India-House, by Cornet Burgoyne, of 
his majesty's 8th regiment of light dragoons, who had 
the command of the troops on board the above vessel, 
nod by the fourth oincer of the ship, (who were among 
ihe few who fortunately escaped from the wreck,) and 
from Ihe best information afterwards received. 

On Friday, February the 1st, the Earl of Abergaven- 
ny, East -Indiaman, C?ptain Wadsworth, sailed from 
Portsmouth, in company with the Roya! George, Henry 
Addington, Wexford, and Bombay Casfle, under con- 
voy of his Majesty's ship Weymouth, Captain Draper. 

The Earl of Abergavenny was engaged in the compa- 
ny service for six voyages, and this was the fourth on 
which she was proceeding. 
Her company consisted of 

Seamen, kc. - - - - 160 

Troops, King's and Company's - - 159 
Passengers at the Captain's table - - 40 
Ditto, at the Third Mate's - - 11 

Chinese 32 

Total 402 



LOSS OF THE ABERGAVENNY. 317 

In going through the Needles, they unfortunately sepa- 
rated from the convoy. The fleet, in consequence, lay 
to nearly the whole of the next day ; but seeing nothing 
of the Weymouth, proceeded under moderate sail to- 
wards the next port, in hopes of being joined by the 
convoy. On the 5th, the convoy not appearing, it was 
deemed expedient to wait her arrival in Portland Roads, 
particularly as the wind had become rather unfavorable, 
having shifted several points from the N. E. Captain 
Clarke, of the Wexford, being senior commander, and 
consequently commodore, made the signal' for those 
ships that had taken Pilots on board, to run into the 
Koads. 

The Earl of Abergavenny having at about half past 
three, P. M. got a pilot on board, bore up for Portland 
Roads with a steady wind, when on a sudden the wind 
slackened, and the tide setting in fast, drove her rapidly 
on the Shambles. The nearer she approached, the less 
she was under management ; and being at last totally 
ungovernable, was driven furiously on the rocks, off 
the Bill of Portland, about two miles from the shore. 
She remained on the rocks nearly an hour, beating in- 
cessantly with great violence, the shocks being so grea f , 
that the officers and men could scarcely keep their foot- 
ing on the deck. At 4, P. M. the shocks became less 
violent, and in about a quarter of an hour she cleared 
the rocks. The sails were immediately set, with an in- 
tention to run for the first port, as the ship made much 
water ; but the leak increased so fast that the ship would 
not obey the helm. In this situation, it was considered 
necessary to lire signal guns of distress. Twenty were 
tired : the danger did not, however, appear to those on 
board sufficient to render it necessary for the ships boats 
to be hoisted out at this moment, as the weather was 
motierate, and the ship in sight of the fleet and shore. 

The leak increased fast upon the pumps at five, P. M. 
Soon after striking, the hand pumps started above six 
inches, and shortly after the water increased from six to 
eight feet in spite of every exertion at the pumps. All 
endeavors to keep the water under were found in vain, 
and night setting in rendered the situation of all on 
Cc2 



318 LOSS OF THE ABERGAVENNT, 

board melancholy in the extreme : the more so, • as it 
was then ascertained that the ship had received consider- 
able damage in her bottom, immediately under the 
pu aips. All hands look their turn at the pumps, alter- 
nately baling at the fore hatchway. At eight o'clock 
their situation became still more dreadful, when it was 
found impossible to save the ship, which was eventually 
sinking fast, and settling into the water. Signal guns 
were again discharged incessantly. The purser, with 
the third officer, Mr. Wads worth, and six seamen, were 
seat on shore, in one of the ship's boats, to give notice 
to the inhabitants of the distressed state of the ship and 
crew. At this time a pilot boat came off, and Mr. Evans, 
with his daughter, Mr. Routledge, Mr. Taylor, a cadet, 
and Miss Jackson, passengers, embarked for the shore, 
notwithstanding a dreadful sea, which threatened them 
with almost instant loss. 

For a few moments the general attention of 'the crew 
was diverted in observing the boats leave the ship ; but 
these unfortunate people were soon reminded of their 
own approaching fate, by a heavy swell, which baffled 
almost every attempt to keep the ship above water. 
Every one seemed assured of his fate, and notwithstand- 
ing the unremitting attention of the officers, confusion 
commenced on board, as soon as it was given out that 
the ship was sinking. At 10, P. M. several sailors iutreat- 
ed to be allowed more liquor, which being refused, they 
attacked the spirit- room, but were repulsed by the offi- 
cers, who never once lost sight of their character, or 
that diguity so necessary to be preserved on such an 
occasion, but continued to conduct themselves with the 
utmost fortitude till the last. One of the officers, who 
was stationed at the door of the spirit-room, with a brace 
of pistols to guard against surprise in so critical a mo- 
ment, at which post he remained even while the ship 
was sinking, was much importuned by a sailor, while 
the water poured in on all sides, to grant him some 
liquor. The man' said he was convinced " it would be 
all one with them in an hour hence." The officer, howi 
ever, true to his trust in this perilous moment, had 
courage enough to repulse the man, and bid him go to 



fcOSS OF TB£ AlEJieAVENKT. $3$ 

his duty with his fellow comrades, observing, u that if it 
was God's will they should perish, they should die like 
men." 

At half past ten the water had got above the orlopr 
deck, in spite of the endeavors of the officers and crew 
who behaved in the most cool and exemplary manner. 
All on board were now anxiously looking out for boats 
from the shore, many wishing they had taken refuge m 
those that had already left the ship, as their destruction 
on board appeared inevitable. The utmost exertions 
became necessary to keep the ship above water till the 
boats came off from the shore. Unfortunately in the 
.general distress and agony of the moment, the ship's 
boats were not hoisted out, when every soul on board 
might possibly have been saved. At eleven o'clock, a 
fatal swell gave the ship a sudden shock : she gave a 
surge, and sunk almost instantaneously, two miles from 
Weymouth beach ; with scarce five minutes warning, 
she went down by the head in twelve fathom water, 
after a heavy heel, when she righted and sunk with her 
masts and rigging standing. Many clung to loose spars, 
and floated about the wreck, but the majority took refuge 
in the shrouds. The severe shock of the ship going 
down, made several let go their hold, whilst others, by 
the velocity of the ship's decent, had not power to climb 
sufficiently fast to keep above the water. The HaJse- 
well East-Indiaman was wrecked within a few miles from 
this spot. — See p. 214. 

When the hull of the ship touched the ground, about 
one hundred and eighty persons were supposed to be in 
the tops and rigging : their situation was bej^ond all des- 
cription wretched ; the yards only were above water, 
and the sea was breaking over them, in the dead of a 
cold and frosty night. In about half an hour their spir- 
its were revived, by the sound of several boats beating 
against the waves at a short distance ; but, alas ! how 
vain their hopes, when on hailing the boats, not one of 
them came to their assistance. The sound of them 
died away, and ihey were sgain left to the mercy of the 
rude waves By twelve o'clock their numbers had 
much decreased : the swell bad swept some off, white* 



3£0 L0S3 OF THE ABEROAVENirf. 

others were, from the piercing cold, unable longer to re- 
tain their hold. Every moment they perceived some 
friend floating around them, for a while, then sinking 
into the abyss to rise no more. 

About this time a sloop was discovered ; she had for- 
tunately heard the signal guns, and came to an anchor 
close by the ship. The weather was moderate, and 
those who had survived were now promised a speedy 
delivery. The sloop's boat was immediately manned, 
and proceeded to the rigging that remained above water, 
when every person was taken off. The boat returned 
three times, taking twenty each return. Nothing could 
be more correct than the conduct of the crew on this 
occasion : they coolly got into the boat, one by one 
and those only as they were named by their officers. 
When it was supposed that every one was brought off, 
and the boat was about to depart for the last time, a 
person was observed in one of the tops : he was hailed 
to but did not answer. Mr. Gilpin, the fourth officer, 
(whose extraordinary exertions on this occasion, as well 
as throughout the whole of this unfortunate affair, enti- 
tle him to the highest commendation,) returned to the 
wreck, and there found a man in an inanimate state, 
exhausted from the severe cold. He most humanely 
brought him down on his back, and took him to the 
boat ; the man proved to be serjeant Heart of the 22d 
regiment. Every possible care was taken of him, but 
to no effect : he died about twelve hours after he had 
landed. The sloop having now, as was supposed, taken 
on board all the survivors of the ship, returned to Wey- 
mouth. She had not, however, proceeded far, before it 
was perceived that Mr. Baggot, the chief officer, was 
close astern. The sloop immediately lay to for him; 
but this noble spirited young man, although certain of 
securing his own life, disregarded his safety, on perceiv- 
ing Mrs. Blair, an unfortunate fellow passenger, floating 
at some distance from him. Fie succeeded in coming 
up with her, and sustained her above water, while he 
swam towards the sloop ; but just as he was on the 
point of reaching if, a swell came on, and his strength 
being totally exhausted, he sunk and never rose again. 






LOSS OP TfiE ABERGAVENNY. 322 

The unfortunate Mrs. Blair sunk after him, and this gen* 
erous youth thus perished in vain. It was nearly two 
o'clock before she weighed anchor from the wreck, but 
the wind being favorable she soon reached the port. 
On mustering those who had landed, it appeared that 
only 155 persons had reached the shore cut of 402 who 
had embarked ! 

The greatest attention was paid to the unfortunate suf- 
ferers by the mayor and aldermen, as well as the princi- 
pal inhabitants of Weymouth : and the purser was im- 
mediately dispatched to the India-House with the me- 
lancholy intelligence. 

At day-light, February the 6th, the top-masts of the 
ship were seen from Weymouth. During the time the 
passengers and crew remained in the tops she appeared 
to have sunk eight feet, and was considerably lower in the 
morning ; it was therefore conjectured, that she had sunk 
on a mud bank. The Greyhound cutter was immediate- 
ly stationed to guard the wreck, and the boats from the 
Rover succeeded in stripping the masts of the rigging. 
On the 7 th her decks had not been blown up, and she 
appeared to remain in exactly the same state in which 
she had stak. Her sinking so steadily is attributed to 
the great weight of her cargo, her floorings consisting 
chieily of earthen-ware. The cargo of the ship was es- 
timated at 200,0001. besides which she had on board 
dollars to the amount of 275,000 ounces, and is suppos- 
ed to have been one of the richest ships that ever sailed 
for India. She was of the largest tonnage, and inferior 
only to the Ganges in the service, being at least 1500 
tons burthen, and built for the China trade. 

About 80 officers and seamen were saved, 11 passen- 
gers, 15 Chinese, five out of 32 cadets, and 45 recruits. 
The captain was drowned. He was nephew to Cap- 
tain Wadsworth, who formerly commanded the Earl of 
Abergavenny, and was considered one of the first naviga- 
tors in the service. He was on his third voyage as captain, 
and painful to relate, perised with his ship, disdaining 
to survive the loss of so valuable a charge : his conduct, 
throughout the distressing scene, has been spoken of in 
terms of the highest praise. It is an extraordinary fact. 



322 fiOSS OF THE ABERGAVENNY. 

that he felt such an unaccountable depression or spirits, 
that he could not be persuaded to go through the usual 
ceremony of taking leave of the Court of Directors on the 
day appointed ; and it was not till the Wednesday fol- 
lowing, which was specially fixed for that purpose, that 
he yielded to the wishes of his friends, and reluctantly 
attended the Court! He was a man of remaikabJe mild 
manners: his conduct was, in every instance, , so 
well tempered, that he was known, among his ship- 
mates, by the title of u the Philosopher/*' As soon tis 
the ship was going down, Mr. Baggot, the chief officer, 
went on the quarter deck, and told him, " that all exer- 
tions were now in vain ; the ship was rapidly sinking." 
Captain Wads worth, who, no doubt, expected it, stead- . 
fastly looked him in the face, and, at last, with every 
appearance of a heartbroken man, faintly answered : 
" Let her go ! God's will be done." These were the 
last words he uttered — from (hat instant he was motion- 
less. In a few moments the ship sunk, and many who 
were climbing the shrouds endeavored to save him, but 
without success. In this endeavor Mr. Gilpin was fore- 
most, and made several unsuccessful attempts, at the 
evident risk of his own life. 



From a London Paper of May 4, 1806, we extract the 
following. — Am. Edition. 

" By a letter received this day, it appears that 27 
chests of specie were landed at Weymouth on Thurs- 
day, from the wreck of the Abergavenny East-India- 
man." 



32S 



THE LOSS 

OF THE CORBIN, 

Commanded by 'Francis Pirard Be Laval, on the 
Maidivia Islands. 



Nc 



i O sooner was the way opened to th« East, 
than the different nations of Europe were emulous to 
signalize themselves by pursuing the same course, and 
anxious to participate m the commercial advantages it 
disclosed. The merchants of St. Malo, in France, 
for spirit and opulence seemed early to have been dis- 
tinguished above the rest of their countrymen; they fit- 
ted out two vessels for the East-India trade, the Crois- 
sant of 31)0, and the Corbin of 200 tons burden. On 
board the latter was Frances Pirard de Laval, whose 
misfortunes and remarks furnish the materials of the fol- 
lowing pages. 

These ships left St. Maio on the 18th of May, 1601, 
and proceeded with favorable gales to Anabon, on the 
coast of Africa, where they took in water and fruit. 
From thence they steered for St. Helena, where the 
crews refreshed, and in a short time recovered from the 
attacks of the scurvy, which had began to spread its 
fatal influence among them. 

Having doubled the Cape of Good Hope, they refit- 
ted in St. Augustin's Bay, in the Island of Madagascar; 
and from thence sailed for the Comoro Isles, where 
they made some stay, highly delighted with the beau- 
ty and fertility of the place. 

Fortune had so favored them, that they had readied 
nearly the end of their voyage without any cross acci- 



324 L033 OF THE COBBlK. 

dent or remarkable occurrence. At last, in lat. 5 north 3 
they found themselves entangled among shelves ; and 
attempting to pass them, the Corbin, which sailed con- 
siderably ahead, thrice struck .on a rock on the coast of 
the Maldives ; and being out of reach of any assistance 
from her consort, was left to her fate. 

At the time when this accident happened, the French 
hailed a bark belonging to one of the islands ; but the 
natives did not venture to approach them, on account 
of a royal prohibition, which forbids them from having 
any intercourse with strange ships, without the king's 
leave. 

Meanwhile, the sailors, seeing the destruction that 
awaited them, instead of warding it off by prudence, 
seemed to hasten it by desperation and excess. They 
broke loose from all restraint, insulted their officers, eat 
and drank with a frantic gaiety, and loudly proclaimed, 
that as death was inevitable, they were resolved to make 
its approach as easy as possible. 

In disasters of this kind the danger is always increas- 
ed by insubordination ; but with the momentary dread 
of death before them, it cannot be expected that uncul- 
tivated minds can reason or reflect ; the frantic impulse 
of the minute is their only rule of action. 

While the Corbin was suspended on the rocks, the 
conduct of the common men filled every thinking mind 
with horror : at last they became more reconciled to 
their situation, and having escaped immediate death, 
they began to listen to the suggestions of their officers, 
and to yield their assistance to work the ship to land. 
In short, after continuisg two days in this deplorable 
situation, the Corbin was, with infinite labor and diffi- 
culty, hauled over the flats, and brought to a -mail 
island named Pouladon, belonging to the Maldivia 
group. 

The French carried some arms with them, but the 
natives insisted on their being delivered up, before they 
would suffer them to laud. Submission was their only 
resource; they surrendered aj discretion, and were 
conducted by the Indians to the interior of the island, 
where they were entertained v.iih cocoas, lemons, and 



LOSS OF THE COREIN. &%& 

©#ier fruits, but rilled of every thing about them, on 
pretence that all the property saved from wrecks belong- 
ed to the king. 

However, the French having a piece of scarlet cloth, 
had the policy to give out, that it was originally intend- 
ed as a present for the king of the islands, together with 
the whole cargo of the ship. On this the natives were 
very cautious not to meddle with what they considered 
as royal properly.; but the chief man of the island was 
privately induced to accept a few yards of scarlet cloth, 
which present confirmed him their friend. 

Soon after, this person sent the master of the ship and 
two of the sailors to Male, where the king resided, when 
one of the royal family was immediately dispatched to 
save whatever could be done from the wreck. 

The French, on leaving the vessel, had .brought off a 
considerable quantity of money with them, which they 
buried on shore, as a common supply for their future ex- 
igencies ; but some of the men, being in want of sub- 
sistence, and knowing where the treasure was hid, dug 
up a part of it, and having offered some pieces of money 
for food, the consequence- of this was speedily felt. 
'The natives seeing that the strangers had money, would 
siot allow them the smallest assistance without being paid 
for it; and whea the hoard began to be exhausted, they 
were brought to the greatest distress. Each now be- 
came selfish and unfeeling; for -Where money commands 
every thing, and nothing is to be procured without it, 
these dispositions are rather to be lamented than won- 
dered at. The strong robbed the weak, the healthy 
withdrew the pittance of the sick; and that -fellow-feel- 
ing and partnership in fortunes, which should have bound 
them to each other hy stronger ties, were weakened and 
dissolved by the love of amassing money, to supply 
their individual wants. 

Our author and two o&ers were transported to the 
island of Pandow, where the natives, hearing of the 
treasure's that had been brought to light in the other isl- 
ands, and thinking that those persons too were not des- 
titute of money, refused them provisions, m hope? of 
extorting a recompense. Lava] and his associates liuv - 
D d 



3£8 LOSS OF THE CORBtN. 

ing no resources of this kind, were reduced to the great- 
est extremities ; but assiduously applying himself to learn 
the language of the country, and having ingratiated 
himself with the governor of the island, he was soon 
sent to Male, with recommendations to the king. 

His majesty and sultanas were highly delighted to find 
a foreigner who could converse with them in their own 
tongue ; and, by the arts of insinuation and address, he 
soon rose to rank and opulence among this people, where 
lie was obliged to live several years, and by this means 
gained much local knowledge of the country and the 
customs. 

The Maldives lie between one deg. north, and four 
deg. south latitude, extending 200 leagues in length, 
and 25 in breadth. They are said to be divided into 13 
provinces, called attolons, each of which comprehends 
many small islands. Ridges of rocks surround the 
whole, on which the sea breaks with prodigious violence. 
The whole number of islands is calculated at 1 2,000, but 
many of them are only sandy, steril spots, without the 
least vegetation. Penguins, however, and other marine 
birds, take up their residence here ; the most barren 
islets are covered with their nests. 

The attolons all lie in a line, and are parted by narrow 
channels, through which the navigation for ships of any 
burthen is extremely perilous. But the natives being 
innured to the sea from their infancy, shew much dexter- 
ity in managing their vessels, that neither rocks nor sur- 
ges alarm them. However, they seldom sail by night, 
nor do they often leave sight of land. 

The climate, from the situation, must naturally be 
supposed to be excessively hot ; yet the nights are cool, 
and the heavy dews, which fall then, refresh the herbs 
and trees. The winter commences in April, and lasts 
till October, during which period the rain falls in deluges, 
and the westerly winds are very boisterous. In the sum- 
mer months the wind* blow in a contrary direction, and 
the earth is parched up with drought. 

The Maldivians are a personable people, of an olive 
complexion. The natives of Male, and of the other 
islands towards the norih ? are more polished tliun those 



L3SS OF THE COSBIN. 321 

towards the south, who seldom have any intercourse 
with Europeans. On the north, the king and the prin- 
cipal people reside ; , and banishment to the south 
is a common punishment for crimes not worthy of 
death. 

The Maldivians, in general, are supposed of a quick- 
ness of parts, a liveliness of disposition, and much ingen- 
uity. They are prudent and warlike, and have a regu- 
lar form of government. 

The women may be reckoned handsome ; their hair 
is naturally black, and this color is heightened by art. 
Girls have their heads shaved, except a little tuft on the 
forehead, to distinguish them from boys. When they 
arrive at maturity, the care and management of their 
hair is a principal object of female attention. They 
wash it with a peculiar water, suffer it to float in 
(he wind to dry, and then perfume it with odoriferous 

Both sexes bathe once a day, and afterwards anoint 
their bodies. The women having washed and perfum- 
ed themselves, collect their hair in a knot, and in- 
crease the apparent quantity by artificial means. They 
also frequently set off their heads with fragrant flow- 
ers. 

Among the men^ only persons of rank and soldiers 
are allowed to wear their hair uncut, and these dress 
it nearly in a similar manner to the women. la gen- 
eral they shave ; but those who have performed a 
pilgrimage to Mecca, have the priviledge of suffering 
their, beards to grow to a full length. Even the hair, 
which is cut, and the parings of the nails, are buried 
in the usual cemeteries, from an idea that being parts 
of the natural body, they ought to be treated accord- 
ingly. 

The men wear a swathe of cloth between their legs, 
over which they have a piece of cotton depending to 
the knees, and above that a longer kind, of silk or cot- 
ton, reaching to their ankles. The waist is adorned 
with an embroidered kandherchief, tied before. Over 
all, they have a large silk fringed girdle, in the left side 
of which is a pocket for carrying their money and 
betel, and in the right a knife is stuck, 



328 L©5S OF THE COREItf. 

Every male' prides himself on wearing; a knife, if bs- 
ang the only weapon the inferior ranks are allowed. The 
soldiers and grandees, however, carry a dagger at their 
sides, and when they walk abroad, a sword in one hand, 
with a buckler or javelin in the oilier. 

The Maldivians place their chief personal decoration 
in the silver chains that hang from their girdle ; and 
«f these every person has a greater or smaller quantity, 
in proportion to his opulence. 

The common people seldom wear any other clothes 
hut what decency requires, except on festivals ; but men 
of quality have handsome jerkins and waiscoats, while 
the more foppish anoint the skin, from the girdle up- 
wards, with an odorous paint, m which figures are some- 
times delineated. 

Turban?, of various qualities, are in common uee, 
but the soldiers and grandees frequently use embroidered 
handkerchiefs as a covering; for the head. The feet are 
always naked, except within doors, when wooden san- 
dals are used. 

The women wear a silk or cotton petticoat, over 
which they throw a long robe without any opening, ex- 
cept at the neck, and this reaches to their feet Their 
arms are decorated with a profusion of bracelets, ac- 
cording to their rank. Their ears are early pierced in 
the tip, from which hangs a large pendant, and the grislle 
is perforated in many places, and studded with guilt 
nails, set with precious stones or pearls. The privilege, 
however, of wearing ornaments of gold or jewels must 
be purchased of the queen ; and, in like manner, the 
men must buy the king's permission for the same in 
"dukence. 

When the women go abroad they are deeply vailed, 
and their faces are difficult to be seen ; but in presence 
of women of superior rank, the etiquette requires that 
they should be unveiled. 

The different qualities of the women are distinguished 
by their ornaments ; and, if a wife, through vanity, as- 
sumes more costly decorations than belongs to her remit, 
her husband's taxes are raised, unless he is in the royal 
service, or an inhabitant of Male ; for in that island there 
are no sumptuary laws in regard io dress. 



LOSS OF THE GORBIN. 329 

The king is generally clothed in a fine white robe, 
which reaches a little below the girdle ; this fastened 
with buttons of solid gold. Over the robe he wears a 
piece of red embroidered tapestry, depending to the 
heels, richly ornamented. His girdle is adorned with 
brilliants, and on his head he wears a scarlet cap, laced 
with gold, and surmounted with a large gold knob, set 
with a jewel. 

But the chief ensign of royal dignity is a white um- 
brella, which no native is permitted to use. He is usu- 
ally attended by three pages ; one carries his fan, anoth- 
er his sword and buckle, and the third his betel and 
areca box. 

M. de Lavai was doomed to remain in this country long 
enough to acquire an intimate knowledge of the charac- 
ters and customs of the Maldivians at that period. He 
saj^s that the king was generally shut up with his women, 
or employed in giving audience to his courtiers. He had 
a taste for the mechanic arts, and constantly employed 
and superintended a number of artificers in the various 
branches of elegant manufacture. His guards consisted 
of six companies, under the command of as many coun- 
sellors, named moscoulis. Besides which he had ten 
t battalions, who, served his majesty in various civil, rath- 
er than military capacities. 

On Fridays the king went to the mosque in great 
pomp, attended by one hundred of his guards, his offi- 
cers in waiting, and a complete band of music* consist- 
ing of trumpets, flutes, and drums. After service he 
returned in the same state ; and, as these islands afford 
no beasts of burthen, he walked on foot, unless when 
he was carried in a chair on the shoulders of his slaves, 
which was not frequent. 

His queens wore the same kind of habits as the other 
Maldivian women, but of a much richer and more ex- 
pensive quality. Whenever they appeared in public, 
the women ran to meet them, and presented them with 
fruit and flowers. A number of female slaves preceded 
them, to warn the men from approaching. The cham- 
bers where these royal prisoners lived were always 
Sighted with lamps ; so that their lives must, accord- 
Dd2 



i>39 Less cf the cokcx-s. 

ing to our ideas, be the most uncomfortable in the 
world. 

The royal revenues arise from the crown lands, from 
a fifth of the grain and fruits of the whole country, from 
a tax on dried fish and on shells named cowries, the 
current medium of exchange. In addition to these im- 
posts, his subjects annually present, him with cloth enough 
to dress his soldiers. He likewise derives no inconsidera- 
ble revenues from goods imported by shipping, as he is 
principal merchant, and sells out the commodities he 
has purchased on what terms he pleases. 

AH shipwrecks belong to his majesty, and also what- 
ever ambergrise is found on the coast. This is more 
abundant here than in any other part of the Indies, and 
is so strictly watched, that whoever secrets or ap- 
propriates it to his own use, on detection loses a hand. 
The king has also the sole property in a kind of sea-nuts, 
called tannacarre, which are frequently thrown on the 
shore. These are as large as a man's head, and are 
esteemed valuable in medicine. The Portuguese call 
them the cocoas of the Maldives. 

The government is an absolute monarchy. Each 
attolon, or province, is under the superintendence of a 
naybe, or governor, who is a priest and doctor of the 
Jaw, and exercises very extensive powers. The naybes, 
however, are accountable to the partdiare, or cady, who 
resides in the isle of Male, and is the supreme judge 
bolh in civil and ecclesiastical causes. The judgement 
of this officer can only be reversed by the king himself 
to whom an appeal lies. 

The pandiare makes an annual circuit of the isle of 
Male, as every naybe does in his respective province, 
and condemns all to be whipped that cannot say their 
creed and prayers in the Arabic tongue. When wit- 
nesses are cited in any cause, by a singular regulation, 
the evidence of three women is only equivalent to that 
of one man, and slaves are never admitted to give their 
testimony. 

An insolvent debtor is obliged to become a servant 
f© his creditor, and both he and his children must worfc 
the 4ebt out before he obtains his liberty. The ordma- 



L0S3 OF THE CORSIN. 33 1 

ry punishment for criminals is whipping, and the most 
heinous offences, short of murder, may be got off for 
a pecuniary mulct. Stealing, however, is punished with 
.the loss of a hand; but capital punishments are never 
inflicted, except by the king's express command. 

The inhabitants are divided into four classes : the 
royal family, persons invested with offices and dignities, 
the nobility and gentry, and the common people. Be- 
tween the third and fourth ranks the distinctions are very 
strictly observed. If a noblewoman marries a plebeian, 
she retains her rank, and her children are ennobled also ; 
but a women of the lowest class derives no privileges 
from matching with a grandee. The king, however, 
possesses the power of elevating whom he pleases to the 
third rank, by a bind of letters patent ; and, of 
course, they are then eligible to the offices of trust or 
honor. 

The externals of religion are very strictly observed 
among the Maldivians : butits vital influence is little felt. 
The grossest vices are daily committed without shame, 
and almost without punishment. Both sexes are ex- 
tremely libidinous ; and chastity before marriage is nei- 
ther reckoned a virtue nor a fault. 

To be able to read the Koran in the original is the 
extent of their literary acquirements. The Maldivian 
tongue, is, however, cultivated with some care. In 
teaching children to write, they make use of a bodkin 
on a smooth board covered with sand. But their wri- 
tings, which are intended to be durable, are on a kind 
of paper, made of the leaf of a tree. 

Children have a profound veneration for their masters 
and parents ; and with this, so many good qualities aue 
generally united, that it must be the want of good ex- 
amples alone that renders them vicious or dissipated. 
Where a due respect is paid to age and authority, the 
young might be trained to any thing. 

Metalie money is only of one sort, called larrins, 
about the value of eight pence. Instead of small change, 
they make use of cowries, twelve thousand of which 
make a larrin. Gold and silver are imported from the 
continent, and go by weight when employed as the me- 
dium of exchange* 



332 L0S3 OF THE CORBIIf. 

Merchants resort to the Maldives, principally to pur- 
chase the cocoa nuts and cowries. When Laval resided 
here, upwards of one hundred ships annually resorted 
thither to purchase cocoas, and the balance of trade 
seemed to he in favor of those islanders. 

Some of the festive customs of the Maldivians are 
very singular. If they intended to compliment a friend 
with an entertainment, they send the viands to his house, 
as they seldom eat in the presence of others. Instead 
of a table, they cover the floor with a mat ; and for 
cloths and napkins, make use of banana leaves. Their 
dishes are of earthen or china ware. 

The poor are treated with great humanity, and none 
will offer them food that they do not tnink fit to 
eat themselves. The indigent are regarded as the ser- 
vants of God, and it would be reckoned profane to treat 
them with offal. 

During their meals they are very silent, and think it 
indecent to be long at table. They never drink till they 
have finished their repast, and even then only drink 
once of water or cocoa wine. No man must meddle 
with cookery, or his sex would avoid him as a disgrace 
to them. 

No sooner do children come into the world than they 
are washed six times a day in cold water, and then 
anointed with oil. The mothers, from i»e highest to the 
lowest rank, suckle their offspring. At the age of nine 
months they generally begin to walk ; and when they 
arrive at nine years old ? they commence the studies and 
exercises of the country. 

When the Maldivians wake from sleep, they immedi- 
ately wash their faces, and rub them with oil, before 
they salute any one. Betel is universally chewed, and 
they mutually present it to each other on occasional 
interviews. Cleanliness is not only an article of their 
religion, but an inbred habit among them. 

They have many superstitious observations when they 
begin a journej^, or take any business of importance in 
hand. If any unlucky incident befais them, they impute 
it to some unpropitious person whom they have met cjr 
touched. 



LOSS OF ?EE OOftSM. 333 

Willi the Mahometan faith they mix many Pagan 
rites. They address themselves to the king of the winds, 
when they are going on any expedition by water ; and 
in every island there is a desolate plaee, where those 
who have escaped shipwreck make their offerings. 
They also pay a superstitious respect to the king of the 
sea, whence they think it impious to spit to the wind- 
ward of the ship. 

All natural and incidental ills they impute to the in- 
tervention of the devil ; and to avert his vengeance they 
make him occasional offerings of flowers or banquets. 
The latter is sometimes carried off by the poor, when 
superstition is not stronger than hunger. 

They attribute a wonderful virtue to certain charac- 
ters, w r hich they always carry about them in little boxes. 
These are believed to be of powerful efficacy in curing 
©r alleviating diseases, in procuring love and safety, 
and preserving them from malice and danger. The 
magicians, who are also the physicians, derive a lucritive 
trade in these charms or amulets. 

In these islands are no inclosed towns, the houses 
lying scattered without regularity or distinction of streets. 
Their dwellings are generally built of cocoa w r ood, and 
covered with the leaves of the same tree ; but persons 
of quality have stone buildings, of a black color, the 
materials of which they draw out of the sea with rauc&t 
labor and ingenuity. 

So expert are they in diving and swimming, that La^ 
val says, they drew up the cannon and anchors of the 
French ship that was cast away ; and he was an eye wit- 
ness of their clearing the harbor of Male within a few 
days, which was so choaked up with rocks that no ship 
could enter it. 

The royal palace has many fine apartments, but no 
regular architecture. It is surrounded with gardens, 
adorned with fountains and reservoirs. The ceiling and 
walls of the palace are hung with silk tapestry, and 
floored with mats. The king's beds, and those of the 
grandees, are suspended with cords, upon a beam sup- 
ported by two posts, and in them they are rocked to 
sleep. 



334 Less of the cormn. 

The mosques are not inelegant structures, and round 
them are square inclosures, in which they bury the dead. 
Each mosque has its priest ; and each island, that has 
any considerable population, is dignified by having a 
catibe, who is principally master of ali public exercises, 
and governs the inferior priests. 

They retire to the mosques five times a day ; but the 
indolent are allowed to say their prayers at home. An 
absolute neglect, however, of this religious exercise, 
subjects the indevout to all the pains and penalties of 
excommunication : no one will eat or converse with 
them. They offer their penitential prayers with a loud 
voice, and by this means expose the most secret trans- 
actions of their lives ; but where impurity of any kind 
is scarcely regarded as a blemish in the eyes of men, 
this publicity of confession is not regarded as a serious 
difficulty. 

Males are circumcised at seven years of age, on which 
occasion the parents and relations keep a festival for 
fourteen days. Particular operators perform this paii> 
ful rite, and from this only they derive a livelihood. 
Girls also undergo a kind of circumcision when they are 
only two years old ; but this is attended with no solemnity. 
The operator, however, on both sexes is always considr 
ered as a parent. 

The Maldivians celebrate several festivals. Friday, 
being their sabbath, is devoted to fasting and religious 
observances. The catibe composes a new prayer for 
every Friday in the year. He repeats without book, 
and if he makes a single mistake, he rs publicly repri- 
manded. Every new moon is ushered in with a varie- 
ty of ceremonies ; and the feast of the Ramadan, as 
in other Mahometan countries, is kept here with due 
solemnity. 

When a marriage is in contemplation, the parties ad- 
dress themselves to the naybe, who takes the man by 
the hand, and asks him if he is willing to have the wo- 
maa on the conditions proposed ; and, as she is always 
absent, her parents answer in her name. When pre- 
liminaries are settled, the bride is introduced, and the 
company are desired to be witnesses of the compact. 



LOSS OF THE C ORB IN. S3S 

The woman is then conducted, by all present, to her 
husband's house, where feasting, dancing, and music 
commence. The bride-groom makes some customary 
presents to the king, and the bride pays the same com- 
pliment to the queens. But when the king is married, 
instead of giving, he receives presents from his subjects, 
all which belong to thegoew married queen. 

The males may marry wheirthey please ; but females 
are seldom disposed of till they are ten or eleven years 
of age ; and the first suitor, whether old or young, pro- 
vided the rank is not an obstacle, is seldom refused. 
Parents esteem it a sin to keep their daughters single be- 
yond the years of maturity ; but a female orphan can- 
not marry till she is fifteen. 

Though a woman cannot leave her husband without 
his consent, a man may divorce his wife on returning her 
jointure. The divorced parties may come together 
again as often as they please ; but, that the priest may 
not be robbed of his dues, a new marriage must take 
place after each separation. 

When a person dies, the corpse is washed by those 
of the same ?ex. The body is then wrapped in cotton ; 
its right hand placed upon the ear, and the left on the 
thigh. It is then placed in a coffin, and carried to the 
burial ground by relations and friends, attended by wo- 
men, who howl in the most piteous manner. If the 
deceased is a person of quality, gifts are distributed to 
the poor, and the priest, in particular, is not forgot. It 
is his business to sing during the whole ceremony, and 
every day till the third Friday after, when a general 
feast is prepared for the friends of the defunct, on 
the supposition that the soul is then conveyed to Para- 
dise. 

If a person of the first rank dies, the priests sing for 
him a whole year, during which they are well entertain- 
ed and lead a pleasant easy kind of life. O supersti- 
tion, how wide is thy sway ! In Mahometan, arid many 
Christian countries, the same weakness leads men to 
believe in the efficacy of prayers and ceremonies for 
the dead, while priests reap the only benefit from the 
delusion ! 



S3fr LOSS OF THE COBAItf. 

Mourners make no alteration in then* dregs, exsept, 
that they go bareheaded to the place of interment, and 
continue so for a few days. Those who die fighting 
against the enemies of Mahomet, are buried without 
any ceremony, under the idea that they arc at once 
translated to Paradise, and want no intercession of 
priests. 

The Maldives produce luxuriant crops of millet, and 
a kind of grain, called brimby, resembling rape seed. 
Of these two sorts of grain they have a double crop 
yearly. They have several esculent roots, and many 
choice fruits ; but though the attolons are ail nearly in 
the same climate, each is distinguished for its different 
commodities, and the inhabitants in one cannot subsist 
without the commodities of another. This necessity 
links them all in a kind of mutual dependence, pnd 
creates an interchange of commercial articles. Trades 
are also divided in different islands. One contains smiths, 
another weavers, and so on. To facilitate communica- 
tion, these artificers have little boats, in which they 
make the circuit of the islands, to vend their wares or 
manufactures ; and one of these trading voyages some- 
times occupies the space of a year. 

Wild fowl are prodigiously plentiful, though there are 
few domestic poultry. Crows are very troublesome, 
and the bats are as large as ravens. 

There are few poisonous animals, but vermin of vari- 
ous kinds over run the country, and infest the houses. 
Sheep and cattle were the only large quadrupeds in the 
Maldives, when M. de Laval resided there. Dogs are 
held in abhorrence, and two, sent by the king of Portu- 
gal, as a present, were immediately drowned. 

The sea is replete with excellent fish, and fishing con- 
stitutes a principal part of the employment of the natives. 
But of all the productions of the sea, the shell fish, call- 
ed cowries, are the most valuable and most esteemed. 
The shells, commonly called blackamoor's teeth, are no 
inconsiderable articles of commerce Immense fjuanti- 
fies are exported to Guinea; and formerly, about twelve 
thousand pounds of cowries would purchase five hun- 
dred slaves. The value is now diminished ; but still the 



LOSS OF THE COUSIN. 337 

e®wries of the Maldives are in high estimation among 
the negroes, who use them as their principal ornaments, 
and in many places they pass for money to the present 
day. Our author says, that he has seen thirty or forty 
ships wholly laden with them. 

But enough has been said of the customs and produce 
of the Maldives. Let us now attend to the fortune of 
Laval. It has already been said that he rose to some 
distinction : but it is by no means probable that any 
dignity could make him forget that he was cut off from 
his friends and from polished society, nor repress his 
desire to obtain his liberty. 

After he had been about four years and a half in this 
country, news arrived that the king of Bengal was fit- 
ting out a fleet to invade the Maldives. The king of 
Male no sooner received this alarming intelligence, than 
lie issued orders for equipping all the vessels in his 
dominions; but before this could be accomplished, the 
enemy's fleet appeared in sight, on which the king re- 
solved to fly to the southern island, till he could master 
a sufficient force to oppose the invaders with some pros- 
pect of success. 

His most valuable effects were instantly embarked, 
together with his queens ; and he left his distracted sub- 
jects, Who knew not how to avoid the impending danger, 
or how to oppose it. 

No, sooner, however, did the enemy hear of the flight 
of the king, than they despatched some of their swiftest 
sailing vessels to overtake him. The unhappy monarch 
found it impossii le to escape ; he was slain, and his ships, 
wives, and treasure rewarded the victors. 

As soon as the Bengalians landed at Male, Laval sur- 
rendered himself to them ; explaining his situation and 
his solicitude to be taken under their protection. When 
they found lie was not a Portuguese, they treated him 
with much kindness : the French had not yet, by their 
Ambition, disturbed the repose of the natives of the 
east, and, therefore, were not the objects of their re- 
sentment. 

The conquerors, after plundering the royal palace of 
Gwery thing valuable, prepared for their departure, takuig 
Ee 



.338 LOSS OF THE CORJUN. 

with them the brother-in-law of the late king, and lead- 
ing the other natives at liberty. Laval was a voluntary- 
passenger to Bengal, and there he began to concert the- 
means of a passage to Europe. 

While engaged in these plans, the Mogul declared 
war against the prince of Bengal, who assembled a pro- 
digious army to oppose him. However, before hostilities 
commenced, Laval found means to withdraw himself ta 
the coast of Malabar, from whence he proceeded to 
Calicut. At that place he remained eight months, wait- 
ing for a passage in a Dutch ship ; but being at last dis- 
appointed, he travelled to Cochin, where he had the mis- 
fortune to be taken up and imprisoned as a spy. 

At last, however, he made his escape from prison, 
and fled to Goa ; but fortune Was not yet wearied of ex- 
erting her malice against him : here he was again thrown 
into prison, and confined for some time. By his address, 
as well as the justice of his cause, he raised up seme 
powerful intercessors among the Jesuits, who, at length, 
procured his liberation ; and sailing for Europe, he ar- 
rived in safety at Rochelle, on the 16th of February, 
1611, after an absence of nearly ten years, in which he 
had run through a series of adventures equally danger- 
ous and distressing. 



233 



3bOS8 BY FIRE 0* THE 

FRENCH EAST-INDIA COMPANY'S VESSEL, 
THE PRINCE. 

Bound from V Orient to Fondkherry, July 26&, 175& 

(By M. D. La Fond,) 

One of the Lieutenants of that Ship: 

JL HE French East India Company's ship, The 
Prince, commanded by M. Morin, and bound to Pon- 
dicherry, weighed anchor on the 19th of February f 
1752, from the harbor of L'Orient. She had scarcely 
passed the island of St. Michael, when the wind shift- 
ing, it was found impossible to double the Turk bank. 
The utmost efforts, and the greatest precautions, could 
not prevent her from striking on the bank, in such a 
manner that the mouths of the guns were immersed in 
the water. We announced our misfortune by signals of 
distress, when M. de Godehue, the commander of tfye 
port of L'Orient came on board to animate the crew by 
his presence and his orders. All the chests, and other 
articles, of the greatest value, were removed safely 
into smaller vessel9 to lighten the ship ; the whole night 
was occupied with the most laborious exertions. At 
length the tide, in the morning, relieved us from our 
dangerous situation, and enabled us to reach the road of 
Port Louis : we owed the preservation of the ship en- 
tirely to the prudent directions of M. de Godeheu, and 
the measures adopted in consequence. The ship had 



340 LOSS OF tfflE PRINCE. 

sprung several leaks but fortunately our pumps kept th& 
water under : half the cargo was taken out of the vessel, 
and in about a week we returned to L'Orient, where she 
was entirely unloaded. She was then careened and 
caulked afresh. These precautions seemed to promise 
a successful voyage, and the misfortune we had already 
experienced shewed the strength c$ the vessel, which 
fire alone appeared capable of destroying. 

On the 10th of June, 1752, a favorable wind carvied 
lis out of the port, but after a fortunate navigation we 
met with a disaster fit which the strongest expressions 
ran convey but a faint idea. In this narrative I shall 
c en fine myself to a brief detail, as it ^s impossible to 
rccoIlecS an the circumstances. 

The 26th of July, 1752, being in the latitude of 8 
deg. 30 min. South, and in longitude 5 deg. Weti, the 
wind being S. W. just at the moment of taking the ob- 
servation of the meridian, I had repaired to the quarter, 
where I was going to command, when a man informed 
rue that a smoke was seen to issue from the pntmel of 
the greater hatchway. 

Upon this information the first lieutenant, who kept 
the keys of the hold, opened all the hatchways, to dis- 
cover the cause of an accident, the slightest suspicion of 
which frequently causes the most intrepid to tremble. 
The captain, who was at dinner in the great cabin, went 
upon deck and gave orders for extinguishing the fire. 
I had already directed several sails to be thrown over- 
board, and the hatchways to be covered with them, 
hoping, by these means, to prevent the air from pene- 
trating into the hold. I had even proposed, for the 
greater security,' to Jet in the water between decks, to the 
height of a foot ; but the air, which had already obtain- 
ed a free passage through the opening of the hatchways, 
produced a very thick smoke, that issued forth in 
abundance, and the fire continued gradually to gain 
ground. 

The captain ordered sixty or eighty of the soldiers 
under arms to restrain the crew, and prevent the confu- 
sion likely to ensue in such a critical moment. These 
precautions were seconded by M. de la Touche, with 



LOSS OF THE PRINCE. 341 

his usual fortitude and prudence. That hero deserved a 
better opportunity of signalizing himself, and had des- 
tined his soldiers for other operations more useful to his 
country. 

All hands were now employed in getting water ; not 
only the buckets, but likewise all the pumps were kept 
at work, and pipes were carried from them into the 
hold ; even the water in the jars was emptied out. The 
rapidity of the fire, however, baffled our efforts and 
augmented the general consternation. 

The captain had already ordered the yawl to be- 
hoisted overboard, merely because it was in the way ; 
four men, among whom was the boatswain, took pos- 
session of it. They had no oars, but called out for 
some, when three sailors jumped over board and carried 
them what they stood so much in need of. These for- 
tunate fugitives were required to return ; they cried out 
that they had no rudder, and desired a rope to be thrown 
them ; perceiving that the progress of the flames left 
them no other resource they endeavored to remove to a 
distance from the ship, which passed them in conse- 
quence of a breeze that sprung up. 

All hands were still busy on board > the impossibility 
of escaping seemed to encrease the courage of the men. 
The master boldly ventured down into the hold 5 but the 
heat obliged him to return ; he would have been burned 
if a great quantity of water had not been thrown over 
him. Immediately afterwards the flames were seen to 
issue with impetuosity from the great pannel. The cap- 
tain ordered the boats overboard, but fear had exhausted 
the strength of the most intrepid. The jolly beat was- 
fastened at a certain height, and preparations were made 
for hoisting her ever ; but to complete our misfortunes, 
the fire, which increased every moment, ascended the 
mainmast with such violence and rapidity as to burn the 
tackle ; the boat pitching upon the starboard guns fell 
bottom upwards, and We lost all hopes of raising her 
again. 

We now perceived that we had nothing to hope from 
human' aid, but only from the mercy of the Almighty. 
S>ejectk>B filled every mind; the consternation became 
Ee,2 



342 LOSS OF THE PRIXCE. 

general; nothing but sighs and groans were heard ; even 
the animals we had on board uttered the most dreadful 
cries. Every one began to raise his heart and hands 
towards heaven ; and in the certainty of a speedy death 
each was occupied only with the melancholy alternative 
between the two elements ready to devour us. 

The chaplain, who was on the quarter-deck, gave the 
general absolution, and went into the gallery to impart 
the same to the unhappy wretches who had alreadj r com- 
mitted themselves to the mercy of the waves. What a 
horrible spectacle ! Each was occupied only in throwing 
overboard whatever promised a momentaiy preserva- 
tion ; coops, yards, spars, every thing that came to hand 
was seized in despair and disposed of in the same man- 
ner. The confusion was extreme ; some seemed to an- 
ticipate death by jumping into the sea, others, by swim- 
ming, gained the fragments of the vessel ; while the 
shrouds, the yards, and ropes, along the side of the ship 
were covered with the crew who were suspended from 
them, as if hesitating between two extremes, equally 
imminent and equally terrible. 

Uncertain for what fate Providence intended me, I 
saw a father snatch his son from the flames, embrace 
him, throw him into the sea, theA following himself, they 
perished in each others embrace. I had ordered the 
helm to be turned to starboard ; the vessel heeled, and 
this maoBuvre preserved us for some time on that side, 
while the fire, raged on the larboard side from stem to 
stern. 

Till this moment I had been so engaged that my 
thoughts were directed only to the preservation of the 
ship; now, however, the horrors of a twofold death 
presented themselves ; but through the kindness of 
heaven, my fortitude never forsook me. I looked round 
and found myself alone upon the deck. I went into the 
round house, where J met M. de la Touche, who regard- 
ed death with the same heroism that procured him suc- 
cess in India. "Farewell, my brother and my iiien<V 
said he, embracing me — "Why, where are you going .'" 
replied I. u I am going, (said he,) to comfort my friend 
Morm." He spoke of the Captain, who was ovej- 



LOSS OF THE PRINCE, 343 

whelmed with grief at the melancholy fate of his female 
cousins, who were passengers on board his ship, and 
whom he had persuaded to trust themselves to sea in 
hen coops, after having hastily stripped off their clothes, 
while some of the sailors, swimming with one hand, en- 
deavored to support them with the other. 

The yards and masts were covered with men struggling 
with the waves around the vessel ; many of them per- 
ished every moment by the balls discharged by the guns 
in consequence of the flames ; a third species of death 
that augmented the horrors by which we were surround- 
ed. With a heart oppressed with anguish, I turned my 
eyes away from the sea. A moment afterwards I enter- 
ed the starboard gallery, and saw the flames rushing with 
a horrid noise through the windows of the great cabin 
and the round-house. The fire approached, and was 
ready to consume me ; my presence was then entirely 
useless for the preservation of the vessel, or the relief 
of my fellow sufferers. 

In this dreadful situation I thought it my duty to pro- 
long my life a few hours, in order to devote them to my 
God. I stripped off my clothes with the intention of 
rolling down a yard, one end of which touched the water ; 
but it was so covered with unfortunate wretches, whom 
the fear of drowning kept in that situation, that I tum- 
bled over them and fell into the sea, recommending my- 
self to the mercy of Providence. A stout soldier who 
was drowning, caught hold of me in this extremity ; I 
employed every exertion to disengage myself from him, 
but without effect. I suffered myself to sink under the 
water, but he did not quit Ills hold ; I plunged a second 
time, and he still held me firmly in his grasp ; he was 
incapable of reflecting that my death woukl rather hasten 
hi» own than be of service to him. At length, after 
struggling a considerable time, his strength was exhaust- 
ed in consequence of the quantity of water he had swal- 
lowed, and perceiving that I was sinking the third time,' 
and fearing lest I should drag him to the bottom along 
with me, he loosed his hold. That he might n@t catch 
me again I dived and rose a considerable distance frojca 
tiie spot. 



044 



LOSS OF THE PRINCE. 



This first adventure rendered me more cautious in 
future; I even shunned the dead bodies, which were so 
numerous, that, to make a free passage, I was obliged 
to push them aside with one hand, while I kept myself 
above water with the other. I imagined that each of 
them was a man who would assuredly seize and involve 
me in his own destruction. My strength began to fail, 
and I was convinced of the necessity of resting when I 
met a piece of the flag staff. To secure it I pul my arm 
through the noose of the rope, and swam as well as I 
was able ; I perceived a yard floating before me, when 
I approached and seized it by the end. At the other ex- 
tremity, I saw a young man, scarcely able to support 
himself, and speedily relinquished this feeble assistance 
that announced a certain death. The sprit-sail yard next 
appeared in sight; it was covered with people, and I 
durst not take a place upon it without asking permission, 
which my unfortunate companions cheerfully granted. 
Some were quite naked, and others in their shirts ; they 
expressed their pity at my situation, and their misfor- 
tune put my sensibility to the severest test. 

M M orin and M. de la Touche, both so worthy of a 
better fate, never quitted the vessel, and were doubtless 
buried in its ruins. Whichever way I turned my eves 
the most dismal sights presented themselves. The main- 
mast, burnt away at the bottom, fell overboard, killing 
some, and affording to others a precarious resource 
This mast I observed covered with people, and abandon- 
ed to the impulse of the waves ; at the same moment I 
perceived two sailors upon a hen-coop with some planks 
and cried out to them, " My lads, bring the planks, and 
swim to me.' 1 They approached me, accompanied by 
several others ; and each taking a plank, which we used 
as oars we paddled along upon the yard, and joined 
those who had taken possession of the main-mast. 

So many changes of situation presented only new 
spectacles of horror. I fortunately here met with our 
chaplain, who gave me absolution. We were in num- 
ber, about eighty persons, who were incessantly threaten- 
ed with destruction by the balls from the ship's <nins I 
saw likewise on the mast, two young ladies, by whose 



LOSS OF THE PRINCE. 343 

piety I was much edified ; there were six females oh 
board, and the other four were in all probability, already 
drowned or burned. Our chaplain, in this dreadful situ- 
ation, melted the most obdurate hearts by his discourse 
and the example he gave of patience and resignation. 
Seeing him slip from the mast and fall into the sea, as I 
was behind him, I lifted him up again. "Let me go, 
(said he,) I am full of water, and it is only a prolonga- 
tion of my sufferings." " No, my friend, (said I,) we 
will die together when my strength forsakes me." lia 
his pious company I awaited death with perfect resigna- 
tion. I remained ift this situation three hours, and saw 
one of the ladies fall off the mast with fatigue, and per- 
ish ; she was too far distant for me to give her any as* 
sistance. 

When I least expected it, I perceived the yawl alcsfe 
to us ; it was then five o'clock P. M. I cried out to the 
men in her that I was their lieutenant, and begged per- 
mision to share our misfortune with them. They gave 
me leave to come on board, upon condition that I would 
swim to them. It was their interest to have a conductor, 
in order to discover land ; and for this reason my compa- 
ny was too necessary for them to refuse my request. 
The condition they imposed upon me was perfectly rea- 
sonable ; they acted prudently not to approach, as the 
others would have been equally anxious to enter their 
little bark ; and we should all have been buried together 
in a watery grave. Mustering, therefore, all my strength, 
I was so fortunate as to reach the boat. Soon afterwards 
I observed the pilot and master, whom I had left on the 
main-mast, follow my example ; they swam to the yawl, 
and we took them in. This little bark was the means of 
saving the ten persons who alone escaped, out of nearly 
three hundred. 

The flames still continued to consume our ship, from 
which we were not more than half a league distant ; our 
too great proximity might prove pernicious, and we, 
therefore, proceeded a little to windward. Not long 
after, the fire communicated to the powder-^oom, and it 
is impossible to describe the noise with which our vessel 
bjew up, A thick cloud intercepted the light of the sun : 



346 LOSS OF TOT* **IN€2r. 

amidst this horrible darkness we could perceive nothing 
but large pieces of flaming wood, projected into the air, and 
whose fall threatened to dash to pieces numbers of un- 
happy wretches still struggling with the agonies of death. 
"We, ourselves, were not quite out of danger; it was not 
impossible but that one of the flaming fragments might 
reach us, and precipitate our frail vessel to the bottom. 
The Almighty, however, preserved us from that misfor- 
tune; but what a spectacle now presented itself ! The 
vessel had disappeared : its fragments covered the sea to 
a great distance, and floated in all directions with our un- 
fortunate companions, whose despair, and whose lives, 
had been terminated together by their fall. We saw 
some completely suffocated, others mangled, half-bum- 
ed, and still preserving sufficient life to be sensible of the 
accumulated horrors of their fate. 

Through the mefcy of heaven, I retained my forti- 
tude, and proposed to make towards the fragments of 
the wreck to seek provisions, and to pick up any other 
articles we might want. We were totally unprovided, 
and were in danger of perishing with famine ; a death 
more tedious and more painful than that of our com- 
panions. We found several barrels, in which we hoped 
to find a resource against this pressing necessity, but dis- 
covered to our mortification that it was part of the pow- 
der which had been thrown overheard during the con- 
flagration. 

Night approached, but we provideatially found a cask 
cf brandy, about fifteen pounds of salt pork, a piece of 
scarlet cloth, twenty yards of linen, a dozen of pipe- 
staves, and a few ropes. It grew dark, and we could not 
wait till day -light in our present situation, without expos- 
ing ourselves a hundred times to destruction among the 
fragments of the wreck, from which we had not yet 
been able to disengage ourselves. We therefore rowed 
away from them as speedily as possible in order to 
attend to the equipment of our new vessel. Every one 
fell to work with the utmost assiduity ; we employed 
every thing, and took off the inner sheathing; of our 
boat for the sake of the planks and nails ; we drew from 
the linen what thread we wanted ; fortunately one of the 



loss «r THE PHINCE. S'4f 

sailors had two needles ; our scarlet cloth served us for 
a sail, an oar for a mast, and a plank for a rudder. Not- 
withstanding the darkness, our equipment was in a short 
time as complete, as circumstances would permit. The 
only difficulty that remained was, how to direct our 
course ; we had neither charts nor instruments, and 
were nearly two hundred leagues from land. We resign- 
ed ourselves to the mercy of the Almighty, whose assis- 
tance we implored in fervent prayers. 

At length we raised our sail, and a favorable wind 
removed us for ever from the floating corpses of our 
unfortunate companions. In this manner we proceeded 
eight days and eight nights, without perceiving land, ex- 
posed stark naked to the burning rays of the sun by 
day r and to intense cold by night. The sixth day a 
shower of rain inspired us with the hope of some relief 
from the thirst by which we were tormented : we en- 
deavored to catch the little water that fell in our mouths 
and hands. We sucked our sail, but having been before 
soaked in sea-water it communicated the bitter taste of 
the latter to the rain which it received. If, however, 
the rain had been more violent, it might have abated the 
wind that impelled us, and a calm would have been 
attended with inevitable destruction 

That we might steer our course with the greater cer- 
tainty, we consulted every day, the rising and setting of 
the sun and moon ; and the stars shewed us what wind 
we ought to take. A very small piece of salt pork fur- 
nished us one meal in the twenty four hours : and from 
this even we were obliged to desist on the fourth day, on 
account of the irritation of the blood, which it occasion- 
ed. Our only beverage was a glass of brandy, from 
time to time ; but that liquor burned out stomachs with- 
out allaying our thirst. We saw abundance of flying 
fish, but the impossibility of catching them rendered 
our misery still more acute ; we were, therefore, oblig- 
ed to be contented with our provisions, The uncertain- 
ty with respect to our fate, the want of food, and the 
agitation of the sea, combined to derive us of the 
rest, and almost plunged us into despair. Nature 
seeme4,$j* have a^ajuloned. he? functions ; a fee- 



343 L0S9 OF THE PRINCE. 

ble ray of hope alone cheered our minds and prevented 
us from envying the fate of our deceased compan- 
ions. 

1 passed the eighth night at the helm ; I remained at 
my post more than ten hours, frequently desiring to be 
relieved, till at length I sunk down with fatigue*. My 
miserable comrades were equally exhausted, and despair 
began to take possession of our souls. At last, when 
just perishing with fatigue, misery, hunger, and thirst, 
we discovered land, by . the first rays of the sun, on 
Wednesday, the 3d of August, 1752. Only those who 
have experienced similar misfortunes can form an ade- 
quate conception of the change which this discovery 
produced in our minds. Our strength returned, and we 
took precautions not to be carried away by the cur- 
rents. At two P. M. we reached the coast of Brazil, 
and entered the bay of Tresson, in latitude 6 deg. 

Our first care, upon setting foot on shore, was to 
thank the Almighty for his favors ; we threw ourselves 
upon the ground, and, in the transports of our joy, 
rolled ourselves in the sand. Our appearance was truly 
frightful, our figures preserved nothing human that did 
not more forcibly announce our misfortunes. Some 
were perfectly naked, others had nothing but shirts 
that were rotten and torn to rags, and I had fastened 
round my waist a piece of scarlet cloth, in order to ap- 
pear at the head of my companions. We had not 
yet t however, arrived at the end of all our hardships ; 
although rescued from the greatest of our dangers, that 
of an uncertain navigation, we were still tormented by 
hunger and thirst, and in cruel suspense, whether we 
should find this coast inhabited by men susceptible of 
sentiments of compassion. 

We were deliberating which way we should direct 
our course, when about fifty Portuguese, most of 
whom were armed, advanced towards us, and inquired 
the reason of our landing. The recital of our misfor- 
tunes was a sufficient answer, at once announced our 
wants, and strongly claimed the sacred rights of hospi- 
tality. Their treasures were not the object of our de- 
sire, the necessities of life were all that we wanted. 



LOSS OF THE PRINCE. $4$ 

Touched by our misfortunes, they blessed the power 
that had preserved us, and hastened to conduct us to 
their habitations. Upon the way we came to a river, in- 
to which all my companions ran to throw themselves, in 
order to allay their thirst ; they rolled in the water with 
extreme delight ; and bathing was in the sequel one of 
the remedies of which we made the most frequent use, 
and which, at the .same time contributed most to the 
restoration of our health. 

The principal person of the place came and conduct- 
ed us to his house, about half a league distant from the 
place of our landing. Our charitable host gave us linen 
shirts and trowserSj and boiled some fish, the water of 
which served us for broth, and seemed delicious. After 
this frugal repast, though sleep was equally necessary, 
yet we prepared to render solemn thanks to the Almigh- 
ty. Hearing that; at the distance of half a league, there 
was a church dedicated to St. Michael, we repaired thith- 
er, singing praises to the Lord, where we presented the 
homage of our gratitude to Him to whom we were so 
evidently indebted for our preservation. The badness of 
the road had fatigued us so much that we were obliged 
to rest in the village ; our misfortunes, together with such 
an edifying spectacle, drew all the inhabitants around us,, 
and every one hastened to fetch us refreshments. Afier 
resting a short time we returned to our kind host, who, at 
night, furnished us with another repast of fresh fish. As 
we wanted more invigorating food we purchased an ox, 
which we had in exchange for twenty-five quarts of 
brandy. 

We had to go to Paraibo, a journey of fifteen leagues, 
barefoot, and without any hope of meeting with good 
provisions on the way ; we therefore took the precaution 
of smoke drying our meat, and aclded to it a provision of 
flour. After resting three days we departed under an 
escort of three soldiers. We proceeded seven leagues 
the first day, and passed the night at the house of a man 
who received us kindly. The next evening, a sergeant, 
accompanied by twenty nine soldiers, came to meet us 
for the purpose of conducting and presenting us to the 
commandant of the fortress ; that worthy otCcer received 
Ff 



350 LOSS OF THE PRINCE. 

us graciously, gave us an entertainment, and a boat to go 
to Paraibo. It was midnight when we arrived at that 
town ; a Portuguese captain was waiting to present us to 
the governor, who gave us a gracious reception, and fur- 
nished us with all the comforts of life. We there repos- 
ed for three days, but being desirous of reaching Fer- 
nambuc to take advantage of a Portuguese fleet that was 
expected to sail every day, in order to return to Europe, 
the governor ordered a corporal to conduct us thither. 
My feet were so lacerated that I could scarcely stand, 
and a horse was therefore provided for me. 

At length after a journey of four days, we entered the 
town of Fernambuc. My first business was to go, with 
my people, to present myself to the general, Joseph de 
Correa, who condescended to give me an audience ; after 
which Don Francisco Miguel, a captain of a king's ship, 
took us in his boat to procure us the advantage of saluting 
the admiral of the fleet, Don Juan d'Acosta de Porito. 
During the fifty days that we remained at Fernambuc 
that gentleman never ceased to load me with new favours 
and civilities. His generosity extended to all my com- 
panions in misfortune, some of to whom he even gave 
appointments in the vessels of his fleet. 

On the 5th of October we set.sail, and arrived, without 
any accident, at Lisbon, on the 17th of December. On 
the 2d of January our consul, M. du Vernay, procured 
me a passage in a vessel bound to Morlaix. The master 
and myself went on board together, the rest of my com- 
panions being distributed among other ships. I arrived at 
Morlaix on the 2d of February. My fatigues obliged nie 
to take a few days rest in that place, from whence? I re- 
paired on the 10th to 1'Orient, overwhelmed with pover- 
ty, having lost all that I possessed in the world, after a 
service of twenty-eight years, and with my health greatly 
impaired by the hardships I had endured. 



85! 



SHIPWRECK OF THE 



DEGRAVE EAST INDIAMAN, 
On the Coast of Madagascar in the Year 1701. 



JL HE Degrave was a line ship of 700 tons, and 
carried 52 guns. She was commanded by Captain 
William Young, passed through the Downs February, 
ID, 1701, and proceeded to Fort St. Geroge, in the 
East-Indies, where she safely arrived. From thence 
she sailed to Bengal, where her captain and first mate 
died, in consequence of which the command devolved 
on the captain's son, who was second mate; and Mr. 
John Benbow, one of the sons of Vice Admiral Benbow* 
who had gone out in quality of fourth mate from Ben- 
gal. They sailed for the Cape of Good Hope, but in 
going out of the river the ship ran aground, and stuck 
fast ; she floated again the next high tide, and put to sea 
with little or no damage, as was then imagined ; but soon 
after she was found so leaky that two chain-pumps were 
obliged to be kept continually going. In this state the 
crew Sailed two months before they reached the island 
of St. Mauritius, inhabited by the Dutch, who received 
them kindly, and gave them all the assistance in their 
power, permitting them to fit up a tent on shore, 
into which they brought the greatest part of the car- 
go, having unladen the ship in order to search for the 
leak, which, however, they were unable to find- After 
remaining about a month at the island of Mauritius, and 
taking on board about fifty lascars, they sailed directly 
for the Cape of Good Hope. There were then about 
170 hands on board, and though the lascars were not of 
much service, in point of navigation, yet they were of 



352 LOSS OF THE BEGXtAVE. 

great utility, in relieving the English seamen from the 
labor of pumping. This resolution, thus rashly taken, 
of putting to sea before they had stopped, or even dis- 
covered the leak, proved fatal to them. In a few days 
the water gained upon them to such a degree, that, not- 
withstanding the pumps were kept going day and night, 
it was with the utmost exertions that ihey kept the ves- 
sel above water, though they were still 600 leagues 
from their intended port. 

The ship's company believing that common danger 
put them all on an equality, represented to captain 
Young, that his design of proceeding to the Cape was 
become impracticable; and that, therefore, the wisest 
step that could be taken, was to make the nearest land, 
which was that of Madagascar, to the southward of 
which they had sailed about a hundred leagues. The 
captain complied with their advice, and endeavored to 
run the ship on shore, but that was found impracticable 
likewise; they, therefore, when within a quarter of a 
mile of the coast, first let go an anchor,' then cut down 
all the masts and rigging, and threw their guns and 
goods overboard, in the hope of making the ship swim 
nearer. But this being also found impossible, and hav- 
ing already lost their long boat and pinnace, they resolv- 
ed to make a raft, which they did in the night, and the 
next morning Mr. Pratt, the chief mate, with four men, 
went on shore, in a little boat, wath a rope, by which 
they proposed to warp the raft. This boat was staved 
to pieces before it reached the land, but the men escaped 
and secured the rope, which brought the raft on shore 
with the rest of the ship's company, excepting the cap- 
tun, who remained last on board the ship, and did not 
leave her till he found she began to go to pieces, and 
then he threw himself into the sea and swam ashore. 
The crew were quickly made prisoners by the king of 
that part of the island, who carried them fifty miles up 
into the country, where they found a captain Drninmond, 
and a captain Stewart, with a few of their ship's crew, 
in the same situation with themselves, and who soon 
let them into a perfect knowledge of their situation, by 
assuring them that the king intended to make them serve 



LOSS OF THE DE GRAVE. 353 

him in his wars, and would never permit them to return 
to Europe ; which intelligence, as may well be imagin- 
ed, struck them with the utmost consternation. 

In this distress the captains Drummond, Stewart, and 
Young, held a consultation in conjunction with Mr. 
Pratt and Mr. Benbow, in which captain Qrummond pro- 
posed, as the only expedient by which they could recov- 
er their liberty, to seize the black king and march off 
with him prisoner into some other province of the isl- 
and, where ships frequently came Mr Benbow warm- 
ly espoused this proposal and assisted with great cour- 
age in the execution of it, which was performed with 
more ease than was expected ; and the king, his son, 
and his queen were made prisoners, but the queen was^ 
released by captain Young, from a motive of compas- 
sion. It is not very easy to conceive a bolder exterprize 
than this, where between 50 and 60 white people, and 
not above half these armed, carried off a black prince 
out of the midst of his capital, and in the sight of, some 
thousands of his subjects, better armed than themselves ; 
who were, notwithstanding, restrained from firing upon 
them by captain's Young's threatening to kill their king 
if they did. They were, however, guilty of great mis- 
management afterwards, for upon a proposal made by 
the negroes to give them six guns for their king, it was 
agreed to deliver him up, on a supposition that the 
blacks would then follow them no further, and this, not- 
withstanding Mr. Benbow strongly opposed it, and shew- 
ed them the mischievous consequences with which such 
an injudicious measure must be attended. The king 
being given up, the blacks still continued to follow 
them, though at a distance, till at length it Was agreed 
to give up the prince too, imagining that this would put 
and end to the pursuit. They, however, took with them 
three persons, who, as they were informed by the blacks, 
were three of the principal men in the country, by way 
of hostages. Two of these soon made their escape, 
and the blacks not only continued to pursue, but even 
fired upon them, which they had not done before. The 
weakness of their own conduct, and the wisdom of 
F£2. 



854 LOSS OF THE DEGRAVE. 

Mr. Benbows's advice, was now apparant to every one - t 
and as it was obvious that they had no chance left but to 
fight, they began to arrange their little army in order of 
battle. Thirty six armed men were divided into four 
bodies, commanded by the three captains and Mr. .Ben- 
bow, but after an engagement that lasted from noon till 
six o'clock in the evening, it was agreed to treat. The 
negroes demanded their arms, promising them their lib- 
erty on that condition. This proposition, though of such 
a mischievous tendency, and vigorously opposed by Mr. 
Ztenbow, was accepted at the persuasion of captain Young. 
Bui when it came to be put in execution, captains Drum- 
mond and Stewart, with four or five of their crew, refus- 
ed to deliver up their arms, and marched off unperceived 
in the night, accompanied by Mr. .Benbow, and arrived 
safe at port Dauphin. The rest were cruelly murdered, 
excepting Robert Urury, a boy fifteen or sixteen years 
old, whom they preserved and made a slave. Mr .Ben- 
bow, after remaining several years among the Negroes, 
where he lived after their manner, and went naked, esca- 
ped on board a Dutch ship, the captain of which had been 
well acquainted with his father, the Admiral, and for his 
sake treated him with great kindness and respect. He 
arrived safe in England, where he lived many years, and 
composed a work entitled — " A Description of the South 
part of the Island of Madagascar," — which was a very cu- 
rious and accurate performance, and therefore frequently 
borrowed by his friends, with some of whom it still re- 
mains ; nor have the family, after the strictest search, 
been able to retrieTe it. 



3#5 



AN EXTRAORDINARY 

FAMINE IN THE AMERICAN SHIP PEGGY, 

On her return from the Azores to New-York, in 176§. 

X; AMINE frequently leads men to the commis- 
sion of the most horrible excesses : insensible, on such 
occasions, to the appeals of nature and reason, man as- 
sumes the character of a beast of prey ; he is deaf to 
every representation, an$ coolly meditates the death of 
his fellow-creature. 

One of these scenes, so afflicting to humanity, was, 
in the year 1765, exhibited in the brigantine the Peggy, 
David Harrison, commander, freighted by certain mer- 
chants of New- York, and bound to the Azores. She 
arrived without accident at Fayal, one of those islands, 
and having disposed of her cargo, took on board a 
lading of wine and spirits. On the 24th of October, 
of the same year, she set sail on her return to New- 
York. 

On the 29th, the wind, which had till then been favor- 
able, suddenly shifted. Violent storms, which succeed- 
ed each other, almost without interruption, during the 
month of November, did much damage to the vessel. 
In spite of all the exertions of the crew, and the experi- 
ence of the captain, the masts went bj' the board, autf 



356 AN EXTRAORDINARY FAMINE 

all the sails, excepting one, were tore to rags ; and, to add 
to their distress, several leaks were discovered in the 
hold. 

At the beginning of December the wind abated a little, 
but the vessel was driven out of her course ; and, desti- 
tute of masts, sails, and rigging, she was perfectly un- 
manageable, and drifted to and fro at the mercy of the 
waves. This, however, was the smallest evil ; another 
of a much more alarming nature soon manifested itself. 
Upon examining the state of the provisions, they were 
found to be almost totally exhausted. In this deplora- 
ble situation the crew had no hope of relief but from 
chance. 

A few days after this unpleasant discovery, two ves- 
sels were descried early one morning, and a transient 
ray of hope cheered the unfortunate crew of the Peggy. 
The sea ran so high as to prevent captain Harrison from 
approaching the ships, which were soon out of sight. 
The disappointed seamen, who were in want of every 
thing, then fell upon the wine and brandy with which the 
ship was laden They allotted to the captain two 
small jars of water, each containing about a gallon, 
being the remainder of their stock. Some days elaps- 
ed, during which the men, in some measure, appeased 
the painful cravings of hunger by incessant intoxica* 
tion. 

On the fourth day, a ship was observed bearing to- 
wards them in full sail : no time was lost in making 
signals of distress, and the crew had the inexpressible 
satisfaction to perceive that they were answered. The 
sea was sufficiently calm to permit the two vessels to 
approach each other. The strangers seemed much 
affected by the account of their sufferings and misfor- 
tunes, and promised them a certain quantify of biscuit ; 
but it was not immediately sent on board, the captain 
alleging, as an excuse for the delay, that he had just be- 
gan a nautical observation, which he was desirous to 
finish. However unreasonable such a pretext appeared, 
under the present circumstances, the famished crew of 
the Peggy was obliged to submit The time mentioned 



IN THE AMERICAN SHIP PEGGT. 35? 

by the captain had nearly expired, when, to their ex- 
treme mortification, the latter, regardless of his promise, 
crowded all his sails and bore away. No language is ad- 
equate to describe the despair and consternation which 
then overwhelmed the crew. Enraged, and destitute of 
hope, they fell upon whatever they had spared till then. 
The only animals that remained on board were a couple 
of pigeons and a eat, which were devoured in an instant. 
The only favor they shewed the captain was to reserve 
for him the head of the cat. He afterwards declared, 
that however disgusting it would have been on any 
other occasion, he thought it at that moment, a treat ex- 
quisitely delicious. The unfortunate men then support- 
ed their existence by living on oil, candles, and leather, 
and these were entirely consumed by the 28th of De- 
cember. 

From that day until the 13th of January, it is impos- 
sible to tell in what manner they subsisted. Captain 
Harrison had been for some time unable to leave his 
cabin, being confined to his bed by a severe fit c" the 
gout. On the last mentioned day, the sailors went to 
him in a body, with the mate at their head ; the latter 
acted as spokesman, and after an affecting representa- 
tion of the deplorable state to which they were reduced, 
dt clared that it was necessary to sacrifice one in orde? 
to save the rest ; adding, that their resolution was irre- 
vocably fixed, and that they intended to cast lots for the 
victim. 

The captain, a tender and humane man, could not 
hear such a barbarous proposition without shuddering ; 
he represented to them that they were men, and ought 
to regard each other as brethren ; that by such an as- 
sassination, they would for ever consign themselves to 
universal execration, and commanded them, with all his 
authority, to relinquish the idea ef committing such an 
attrocious crime. The captain was silent ; but he had 
spoken to deaf men. They all with one voice replied, 
that it was indifferent to them whether he approved of 
their resolution or not ; that they had only acquainted 
him with it out of respect, and because he would run 



358 AN EXTRAORDINARY FAMINE 

the same risk as themselves ; adding that, in the general 
misfortune, all command and distinction were at an end. 
With these words they left him, and went upon deck, 
where the lots were drawn. 

A negro who was on board and belonged to captain 
Harrison, was the victim. It is more than probable that 
the lot had been consulted only for the sake of form, 
and that the wretched black was proscribed the moment 
the sailors first formed their resolution. They instantly 
sacrificed him. One of the crew tore out his liver and 
devoured it, without having the patience to dress it, by 
broiling, or in any other manner. He was soon after- 
wards taken ill, and died the following day in convul- 
sions, and with all the symptoms of madness. Some 
of his comrades proposed to keep his body to live upon, 
after the negro was consumed ; but this advice was re- 
jected by the majority, doubtless on account of the ma- 
lady which had carried him off. He was, therefore, 
thrown overboard, and consigned to the deep. 

Tite captain, in the intervals, when he was the least 
tormented by the gout, was not more exempt from the 
attacks of hunger than the rest of the crew ; but he 
resisted all the persuasions of his men to partake of 
their horrid, repast. He contented himself with the 
water which had been assigned to him, mixing with 
it a small quantity of spirits, and this was the only 
Sustenance he took during the whole period of his dis- 
tress. 

The body of the negro, equally divided, and eaten 
with the greatest economy, lasted till the 26th of Janua- 
ry. On the 29th, the famished crew deliberated upon 
selecting a second victim. They again came to inform 
the captain of their intention, and he appeared to give 
his consent, fearing lest the enraged sailors might have 
recourse to the lot without him. They left it with him 
to fix upon any method that he should think proper. 
The captain, summoning all his strength, wrote upon 
small pieces of paper, the name of each man who was 
then on board the brigantine, folded them up, put them 
into a hat, and shook them well together. The crew, 



IN THE AMERICAN SHIP PEGGY. S59 

meanwhile, preserved an awful silence ; each eye was 
fixed, and each mouth was open, while terror was 
strongly impressed upon every countenance. With a 
trembling hand one of them drew from the hat the fatal 
billet, which he delivered to the captain, who opened it 
and read aloud the name of David F^att. The un- 
fortunate man on whom the lot had fallen appeared per- 
fectly resigned to his fate ; " My friends, (said he to his 
companions.) the only favor I request of you, is, not to 
keep me long in pain ; despatch me as speedily as you 
did the negro." Then turning to the man who had per- 
formed the first execution, he added : — " It is you I 
choose to give me the mortal blow." He requested an 
hour to prepare himself for death, to which his com- 
rades could only reply with tears. Meanwhile com- 
passion, and the remonstrances of the captain, prevailed 
over the hunger of the most hard-hearted. They unani- 
mously resolved to defer the sacrifice till eleven o'clock 
the following morning. $uch a short reprieve afforded 
very litlle consolation toFuArT. 

The certainty of dying the next day made such a 
deep impression upon his mind, that his body, which, 
for above a month, had withstood the almost total priva- 
tion of nourishment, sun|$ beneath it. He was seized 
with a violent fever, and his state was so much aggra- 
vated by a delirium, with which it was accompanied, 
that some of the sailors proposed to kill him immedi- 
ately, in order to terminate his sufferings. The majori- 
ty, however, adhered to the resolution which had been 
taken of waiting till the following morning. 

At ten o'clock in the morning of the 30th of Jan- 
uary, a large fire was already made to dress the limbs 
of the unfortunate victim, when a sail was descried at a 
distance. A favorable wind drove her towards the Peg- 
gy, and she proved to be the Susan, returning from Vir- 
ginia and bound to London. 

The captain could not refrain from tears at the affect- 
ing account of the sufferings endured by the famished 
crew. He lost no time in affording them relief, supply- 
ing them immediately with provisions and rigging, and 



£60 EXTRAORDINARY FAMINE, &.C. 

offered to convoy the Pegsy to London. The distance 
from New-York, their proximity to the English coast, 
together with the miserable state of the brigantine, induc- 
ed the two captains to proceed to England. The voy- 
age was prosperous ; only two men died, all the others 
gradually recovered their strength. Flatt himself was 
restored to perfect health, after having been so near the 
gates of death. 



mi 



LOSS OF THE 

AMERICAN SLOOP THETIS. 

Which was upset in a gale of wind on the 23d of JVb- : 
vember, 1809, while on her way from New-Bed- 
ford to Savannah, in Which 29 out of 
34 lives were lost. 

By Captain John Tabbr, Jr. 



A SAILED on the 16th of November, 1809, 
from New-Bedford in the Sloop Thetis of that place 
bound to Savannah, having on board including both 
crew and passengers Thirty -Four souls. On the 23d 
we experienced a violent gale of wind from the N. E. 
which brought us too under a trisail after having 
scud six hours. — At about 7 o'clock P. M. we were 
struck, as was supposed, by a white squall from the 
N. N. W. which instantly upset us, in lat. 34, 8 long. 
76, 30 — the sea rushed immediately into the cabin, 
where twenty-two of the Passengers perished, or 
were washed from the deck as they endeavored to 
escape out of the companion way — the vessel lay upon 
her beam ends upwards of 48 hours, during which time 
repeated efforts were made to cut away the mast, but 
without effect it being almost under water and a heavy 
sea going, 1 2 of us being all who survived ; on the second 
day, we lashed ourselves to the quarter rail, when two 
more (Joseph Crowell, and Joseph Francis) perished 
with cold and fatigue. On the 3d day the gale abating, 
Gg 



SG2 LOSS OF THE SLOOP THETIS. 

and the weather growing moderate we cut away tfa« 
shrouds, and cleared away the mast from the wreck and 
she nearly righted but was full of water. On the 6th day 
after being on the wreck we saw a ship, which hoisted 
American colors and bore down we supppsed to our as- 
sistance, but at sun-set she lost sight of us ; the ship stood 
by us all night, during which time we could distinctly 
see her, though it is believed we were not perceived by 
those on board of her : about day light a severe gale 
sprung up, and the ship loosing sight of us proceeded 
on her course : we saw several other vessels pass us, but 
not near enough to be hailed. On tjie 7th day all of 
us except one man was washed from the wreck by a sea 
that unexpectedly broke upon us, but by much exertion 
four of us regained the vessel, when I, with the survivors, 
Asa F. Taber, Amos Rilley, Braddock Gifford, and 
Thomas Snow, wrapped ourselves in a sail spread cross 
the quarter rails, and there continued exposed to the 
inclemency of the weather and to the voracious Sharks 
which sported around us, seeming impatient for their 
pray, one of our companions having already fallen a 
victim to their jaws before our sight ; in this situation we 
continued 17 days, subsisting wholly on raw potatoes and 
port wine .much damaged by the salt water, when Capt. 
Hudson of the ship William and Henry, by an interposi- 
tion of Heaven, too affecting to be ever forgotten by us, 
came to our relief, and snatched us from despair and 
impending, death finding us cold, hungry, and exhausted. 
He clothed and fed us, and by the tenderest exercise of 
hospitality, and kindness cheered us back to life. Not 
to acknowledge our obligations to so great a benefactor 
would be to suppress the involuntary effusions of great- 
ful hearts. For myself therefore, as well as in behalf of 
my surviving fellow sufferers, I embrace this public op- 
portunity of renewedly expressing our warmest acknow- 
ledgments to Capt. Hudson and also to his mates and 
crew, for the promptness and perseverance which they 
shewed in rescuing us from a watery grave, as well as 
their humanity and attention so uniformly continued to 
us till our- arrival in the Port of Charleston, South- 
Carolina. 



LOSS OF THE SLOOP THETIS 363 

NAMES OF THE PERSONS LOST. 

Samuel Wing, (Nathaniel Procter and Samuel Procf er 5 
Brothers) Traders — Joseph Terry, Urial Sherman, Na^- 
thaniel Sherman and William Sherman, Brothers — ' 
Cleghorn Pease, Edmund Pope, Israel Sampson, and 
Bradford Williams, Carpenters — Nathaniel Butler, Cabi- 
net Maker — Timothy Taber, Joseph Crowel, Francis 
Washburn, and Charles Washburn, his apprentice, pain- 
ters — Williams and Griswold, Brick-layers — Henry Tool, 
Mason — Consider Smith, Black smith — William Jenney, 
Thomas Manchester, Jonathan Davis and Abner Davis, 
his apprentice, Shoe-makers — Lemuel Clark, Caulker— 
Ebenezer Jenney, Mate — Josiah Hammond, Joseph 
Francis and Stephen Young, Seamen. 

Nineteen of the above persons had families and all of 
Ihem lived in or near New-Bedford. 



NAMES OF THE PERSONS SAVED. 

John Taber, jr. Master of the Sloop. 

Thomas Snow, ^| 

Asa French Taber, 1 , T , . , „ 

AmosRilley, f Mechanics and Passenger 

Bradford Gifford, J 



364 



A BRI£F SKETCH O* 



NAVAL ENGAGEMENTS, 



WHICH HAVE TAKEN PLACE BETWEEN THE UNITED 
STATES AND GREAT-BRITAIN, SINCE THE COM- 
MENCEMENT OF THE PRESENT WAR. 



J\.T the request of many, and because not whol- 
ly foreign to the design of this compilation since replete 
with instances cf severest Naval Disaster, we subjoin 
some account of the late engagements at sea. In the 
collection of facts, and in the sketches given, entire lib- 
erty has been taken to use word for word, when to our 
purpose, the language of others. The account of the 
capture of the Frolic is entirely from the Port Folio. 

The War commenced between the United States 
and Great-Britain, in the summer of the year 1312, 
became early distinguished by a series of Naval en- 
counters in which American skill and valor were re- 
peatedly crowned with the most signal of successes. 
Tho-e illustrious efforts which have astonished equally 
the ardent hopes of the American People, and the self- 
confident invincibility of the greatest of maritime powers, 
will be ever memorable. 

So humbly had, in the outset, our new enemy felt at 
liberty to conceive of the character of American Seamen, 
md of the Little Navy with which they then esteemed 
themselves to be about entering upon inglorious warfare. 



CAPTURE OF THE GUERRIERE. 365 

that they could scarcely be spoken of but with derision,* 
or sought after, but with the expectation of certain con- 
quest, the accomplishment of which, should prove but a 
few minutes of diversion. 

Such was the state of things when the high and ho- 
nourable minds of our Naval Heroes conceived the ele- 
vated resolution of boldly striking for fame. They suc- 
ceeded. "Bone of our bone"] became the language 
with which the enemy was at length pleased to accost 
them, while the benediction of shouting citizens, of illu- 
minated cities, of approving Legislatures, and of an 
entire and grateful Nation, constituted their rich and glo- 
rious reward. 



capture or 

THE GUERRIERE. 

THE action between the U. S . Frigate Constitution, 
Captain Isaac Hulu, and the British frigate Guerriere ? 
€apt. Dacres, which terminated in the capture of the 
latter vessel, will be ever memorable. It took place in 
!at. 42, N. Ion. 56 west, on the 19th of Aug. 1812, dis- 
tant, nearly due east, about 500 miles from Cape Cod. 

* The following from the London Evening Star, cu- 
riously illustrates the ideas too commonly entertained in 
England^ concerning our Little Navy : at the commence- 
ment- of the war. 

" dndu r Great Britain, to be driven from the proud emi- 
nence which the blood and treasures of her sons have ob- 
tained for her among the nations, by a piece of striped 
bunting fiying at the mast-head of a few fir built frigates, 
imnned by a handful of bastards and outlaws ?" 

f The following comments from the Quebec Mercury, 
alluding to Hie capture of the Guerriere, furnish something 
of a contrast to the contents of the preceding note. 

" What can we say of this unfortunate rencontre, further, 
ihan that we had to contend with men who art bone oJ 
our bone, and flesh of our flesh." 
Gg2 



J66 CAPTURE OF THE GUERRIERE. 

The Guerriere had, by the British, been considered 
as the best frigate then on the American station ; and but 
a few days previous to the action, Capt. Dacres endorsed 
on the Register of the American brig John Adams, which 
arrived at New York September 4th, 1812, the following 
challange. 

" Captain Dacres, commander of his Britannic Ma- 
a jesty's frigate Guerriere, of Forty-Four guns, presents 
" his compliments to Commodore Rogers, of the United 
" States' frigate President, and will be happy to meet 
" him, or any other American frigate, of equal force to 
" the President, off Sandy Hook, for the purpose of 
" having a few minutes Tete a Tete" — The Constitution 
was precisely of equal force to the President, and Capt. 
Dacres had but too soon the short-lived satisfaction of 
being introduced to the " Tete a Tete" he had so eagerly 
courted. 

The frigates saw each other at 2 o'clock, P. M. and 
at half past three, the Constitution sailing before the 
wind, had gained so much upon the Guerriere, that her 
character, as a frigate, was known. A little before five, 
both frigates (then three miles apart) prepared for the 
bloody strife ; the crew of the Constitution giving three 
cheers, and petitioning to be brought close along side 
the enemy. This was an eventful hour. The American 
People were at the time humbling themselves before 
God, solemnising a day of National Fasting and Prayer. 
Captain Hull and Captain Dacres were meeting for the 
decision of a contest, to which all eyes, both in England 
and America, could they have been witnesses, had turn- 
ed. It was the first time, after a lapse of thirty years 
peace, where the equality of the force to be engaged 
gave to each the hope, as well as the determination to 
conquer. It was America with England, it was England 
with America. 

As soon as the Constitution was ready for action, Capt. 
Hull bore down with an intention to bring him to close ac- 
tion immediately. A little after five, the Guerriere dis- 
played the English ensigns, and began firing, giving first a 
broadside, then filing and wearing away, and adding a se- 
cond broadside upon the other tack, but without effect, he? 



CAPTURE OP THE GUERRIERE, 567 

shot falling short. Fifteen minutes after the fire from the 
Guerriere, the Constitution set her colors, and fired. For 
three quarters of an hour the frigates were now engaged, 
the Guerriere wearing very often, and endeavoring to get 
a raking position; the Constitution manoeuvring to 
close with him, and at the same time avoid being raked, 
each firing occasionally. Disappointed in getting a rak- 
ing position, the Guerriere bore up. Five minutes be- 
fore six, they were along side within half pistol shot. In 
this situation the superiority of American gunnery be- 
came at once and splendidly manifest. All the guns of the 
Constitution, double shotted with round and grape, pour- 
ed in so heavy a fire, and so well directed, that, in 16 
minutes the mizen mast of the Guerriere went by the 
board ; her main yard in the slings ; her hull, rigging, 
and sails very much cut to pieces. The fire continued 
to be kept up with equal warmth for 10 minutes, when 
the Guerriere fell on board the Constitution, her bowsprit 
foul of her mizen rigging. The firing still kept up, and 
the cabin of the Constitution took fire from the Guer- 
riere's guns, but was extinguished. After remaining en- 
gaged in this situation for five minutes, the fore and main 
mast of the Guerriere both went by the board, but for 
which she had been boarded by the Constitution, prepar- 
ations for which had been made. 

The Constitution then shot ahead oC the enemy, and, 
in token of submission, the Guerriere fired a gun to 
leeward. 

Thus after 30 minutes close action, " Tete a Tete," 
the Guerriere is without a mast or a single spar standing, 
except the bowsprit ; and her hull below and above wa- 
ter so shattered that a few more broadsides must have 
carried her down. We see her, in short, (using the 
words of Captain Dacres, in his Official Account of his 
capture,) " a perfectly unmanageable wreck." The Con- 
stitution lost all her braces, much of her rigging, and 
some of her spars. The British, by their own account, 
had 1 5 killed, and 63 wounded in the action ; her second 
lieutenant was among the former ; the Captain, first lieu- 
tenant, and master, among the latter. Besides these, 24 
of her crew were missing ; by the British account, how- 



568 CAPTURE OP THE FROLIC. 

ever, they" were absent when the action began. Ten 
others, (Impressed Americans,) are said to have taken no 
part in the action. Captain Dacres in his speech, when 
on trial for striking his flag, says, concerning them, that 
his quarters were considerably weakened, by permit- 
ing Americans belonging to the ship, to quit their quar- 
ters, on the enemy hoisting the colors of that nation ; 
which, though it deprived him of the men, he thought it 
his duty to do. 

The Gueniere mounted Forty-Nine carriage guns, 
and had a crew of 302. The Constitution has been 
stated to have mounted Fifty-Pour guns, and to have had 
a crew rising of 40 : she had 7 only killed, and 7 wound- 
ed. Lieut. Brush, of the marines, among the killed, 
and Lieut. Morris, among the wounded. 

Next morning after the action, the Guerriere had four 
feet of water in her hold, and in the afternoon of that 
day, she was set on fire and blown up. The Constitu- 
tion with her prisoners arrived in Boston harbor, on the 
30th of August. 



CAPTURE OR 

THE FROLIC. 

THE United States sloop of war the Wasp, command- 
ed by Captain Jacob Jones, was cruising in Ion. 65, W. 
andlat. 37, N. the track of vessels passing from Bermur 
da to Halifax, when on Saturday the » 7th of October, 
about 11 o'clock, in a clear moonlight evening, she 
found herself near five strange sail, steering eastward. 
As some of them seemed to be ships of war, it was 
thought better to get farther from them. The Wasp, 
therefore, hauled her wind* and having reached a few 
miles to windward, §o as. to escape or fight as the occa- 
sion might require, followed the strange sail through the 
Wight. At day break on Sunday morning, Capt. Jones 
found that they were six large merchant stops, under 



CAPTURE OF THE FROLIC. 0<& 

convoy of a sloop of war, which proved to be the 
Frolic, capt. Whinyates, from Honduras to England, 
with a convoy, strongly armed and manned, having all 
forty or fifty men, and two of them mounting sixteen 
guns each. He determined, however, to attack them, 
and as there was a heavy swell of the sea, and the 
weather boisterous, got down his top- gallant yards, close 
reefed the top sails, and prepared for action. About II 
o'clock the Frolic shewed Spanish colors ; and the 
Wasp immediately displayed the American ensign and 
pendant. At 32 minutes past 11, the Wasp came down 
to windward, on her larboard side, within about sixty 
yards and hailed. The enemy hauled down the Span- 
ish colors hoisted the British ensign and opened a fire ©f 
cannon and musketry— this the Wasp instantly return- 
ed ; and, coming near to the enemy, the action became 
close and without intermission. In four or five minutes 
the maintop mast of the Wasp was shot away, and fall- 
ing down with the maintop sail yard across the larboard 
fore and foretop-sail braces, rendered her head yards 
unmanageable during the rest of the action. In two or 
three minutes more her gaft and mizentop gallant mast 
were shot away. Still she continued a close and con- 
stant fire. The sea was so rough that the muzzles of 
the Wasp's guns* were frequently in the water. The 
Americans, therefore, fired as the ship's side was go- 
ing down, so that their shot went either on the enemy's 
deck or below it, while the English fired as the vessel 
rose, and thus her balls chiefly touched the rigging, or 
were thrown away. The Wasp now shot ahead of the 
Frolic, raked her and then resumed her position on her 
larboard bow. Her fire was now obviously attended 
with such success, and that of the Frolic so slackened, 
that capt. Jones did not wish to board her, lest the rough- 
ness of the sea might endanger both vessels ; but, in the 
course of a few minutes more, every brace of the Wasp 
was shot away, and her rigging so much torn to pieces, 
that he was afraid that his masts, being unsupported, 
would go by the board, and the Frolic be able to escape. 
He thought, therefore, the best chance of securing her 
was -to board, and decide the contest at once. Witb 



SfO CAPTURE OF THE FROLIC. 

this view he wore ship, and running down upon the ene- 
my, the vessels struck each other ; the Wasp's side rub- 
bing along the Frolic's bow, so that her jib-boom came 
in between the main and mizen rigging of the Wasp, 
directly over the heads of captain Jones and the first 
lietenant, Mr. Biddle, who were, at that moment, stand- 
ing together near the capstan. The Frolic lay go fair for 
raking that they decided not to board until they had giv- 
en a closing broadside. Whilst they were loading for 
this, so near were the two vessels, that the rammers of 
the Wasp were pushed against the Frolic's sides, and 
two of her guns went through the bow ports of the Frolic 
and swept the whole length of her deck. At this mo- 
ment John Lang,* a seaman of the Wasp, a gallant fel- 
low, who had been once impressed by a British man of 
war, jumped on a gun with his cutlass, and was spring- 
ing on board the Frolic ; captain Jones wishing to fire 
again before boarding, called him down ; but his impetu- 
osity could not be restrained, and he was already on the 
bowsprit of the Frolic ; when, seeing the ardor and en- 
thusiasm of the Wasp's crew, lieut. Biddie mounted on 
the hammock cloth to board. At this signal the crew 
followed, but lieut. Biddle's feet got entangled in the rig- 
ging of the enemy's bowsprit, and midshipman Baker, 
in his ardor to get on board, laying hold of his coat, he 
fell back on the Wasp's deck. He sprang up, as the 
next swell of the sea brought the Frolic nearer, he got 
on the bowsprit, where Lang and another seaman were 
already. He passed them on the forecastle, and was sur 
prised at seeing not a single man alive on the Frolic's 
deck, except the seamen at the wheel and three officers. 
The deck was slippery with blood, and strewed with 
the bodies of the dead. As he went forward, the cap- 
tain of the Frolic, with two other officers, who were 
standing on the quarter deck, threw down their swords, 



* John Lang is a native of New-Brunswick in Kern- 
Jersey. We mention, with great pleasure, tJie name of 
this brave American seaman, as a proof that conspicuous 
t>alor is confined to no rank in the Naval Service. 



CAPTURE op the frolic S7i 

-anil made an inclination of their bodies, denoting that 
they had surrendered. At this moment the colors 
were still flying, as probably none of the seamen of the 
Frolic would dare to go into the rigging for fear of the 
musketry of the Wasp. Lieut. Biddle, therefore, jump* 
ed into the rigging himself, and hauled down the British 
ensign, and possession was taken of the Frolic, in forty- 
three minutes after the first fire. She was in a shocking 
condition ; the birth-deck particularly was crowded with 
the dead, wounded, and dying ; there being but a small 
portion of the Frolic's crew who had escaped. Captain 
Jones instantly sent on board his surgeon's mate, and 
all the blankets of the Frolic were hrought from her 
slop room for the comfort of the wounded. To increase 
this confusion, both the Frolic's masts soon fell, cover- 
ing the dead and every thing on deck, and she lay a 
complete wreck. 

It now appeared that the Frolic mounted sixteen thir- 
ty-two pound carronades, four twelve pounders on the 
main deck, and two twelve pound, carronades. She 
was, therefore, superior to the Wasp, by exactly four 
twelve pounders. The number of men on board, as 
stated by the officers of the Frolic, was one hundred 
and ten— the number of seamen on board the Wasp 
was one hundred and two ; but it could not be ascertain- 
ed whether in this one hundred and ten, were included 
marines and officers, for the Wasp had, besides her one 
hundred and two men, officers and marines, making the 
whole crew about one hundred and thirty five. What 
is however decisive, as to their comparative force is, 
that the officers of "the Frolic acknowledged that they 
had as many men as they knew what to do with, and in 
fact the Wasp could have spared fifteen men. There 
was therefore on the most favorable view, at least an 
equality of men, and an inequality of four guns. The 
disparity of loss was much greater- — The exact number 
of killed and wounded on board the Frolic could not be 
precisely determined ; but from the observations of our 
officers, and the declarations of those of the Frolic, the 
number could not have been less than about thirty killed, 
including two officers, and of the wounded between 



372 ' CAPTURE OP THE FROLIC. 

forty and fifty ; the captain and second-lieutenant being 
of tbe number. The Wasp had five men killed and five 
slightly wounded. 

All hands were now employed in clearing the deck, 
burying the dead, and taking care of the wounded, when 
captain Jones sent orders to lieut. Biddle to proceed to 
Charleston, or any southern port of the United States ; 
and as there was a suspicious sail to windward, the 
Wasp would continue her cruise. The ships then part- 
ed. The suspicious sail was now coming down very 
fast. At first it was supposed that she was one of the 
convoy. -who had all fled during the engagement and the 
ship cleared for action ; but the enemy, as she advanc- 
ed, proved to be a Seventy-Fcur — the Poictiers, captain 
Beresford. She fired a shot over the Frolic ; passed her ; 
overtook the Wasp, the disable state of whose rigging 
prevented her from escaping ; and then returned to the 
Frolic, who could, of course make no resistance. The 
Wasp and Frolic were carried into Bermuda. 

It is not the least praise due to Captain Jones, that his 
account of this gallant action is perfectly modest and un- 
ostentatious. On his own share in the capture, it is un- 
necessary to add any thing. " The courage and exer- 
tions of the officers and crew," he observes, " fully an- 
swer my expectations and wishes, Lieut. Bidd'e's ac- 
tive conduct contributed much to our success, by the exact 
attention paid to every department during the engage- 
ment, and the animating example he afforded the crew 
by his intrepidity. Lieuts Rodgers -and Booth, and Mr. 
Rapp, showed by the incessant fire from their divisions, 
that they were not to be surpassed in resolution or skill. 
Mr. Knight, and every other officer, acted with a courage 
and promptitude highly honorab'e. Lieut Claxton, who 
was confined by sickness, left his bed a little previous to 
the engagement; and though too weak to be at his divi- 
sion, remained upon deck, and showed by his composed 
manner of noting its incidents, that we had lost by his 
illness, the services of a brave officer." 



37S 



CAPTURE OF 



THE MACEDONIAN. 

EIGHT days after the capture of the Frolic ttie Brit- 
ish Frigate Macedonian commanded by Captain John 
Garden, mounting 49 carriage guns, and carrying 306 
men, became a prize to the U. States' frigate United 
States, Com. Stephen Decatur commander, after an 
action of an hour and a half. This was in lat. 29 N. 
long. 29, 30 W. on the 25th of October, 1812, off the 
Western Islands. 

The Macedonian was a frigate of the largest class, 
two years old, four months out of dock, and reputed one 
of the best sailers in the British service, and being at 
the windward had the advantage of engaging the Unit- 
ed States at her own distance, which was so great that 
for the first half hour the United States made no use of her 
carronades ; and, to the close of the action, she was never 
once within the complete effect of the United States 
musketry and grape. But for this circumstance, and 
the unusual swell which was on at the time, the action 
had undoubtedly been much sooner finished. Captain 
Carden, on coming on board the United States as a pris- 
oner, fell into a state of deep dejection, repeatedly observ- 
ing that he was a ruined man and that his mortification 
was intolerable. On finding however that he had Capt. 
Dacres as a fellow companion in defeat his spirits reviv- 
ed. To Lieut. Wm H. Allen Com. Decatur awarded 
particular notice, in his cfficiai account of the engage- 
ment, imputing to his unremitted exertions in disciplining 
the crew the obvious superiority of our gunnery as ex- 
hibited in the result of the contest ; and of every officer, 
seaman and marine on board his ship, remarks, that their 
enthusiam on discovering the enemy, their steady con- 
duct in battle, and the precision of their fire, could not 
be surpassed. 

The comparative loss of the parties must fill every 
one with astonishment. The Macedonian lost her 
Hh 



374 CAPTURE OF THE MACEDONIAN. 

mizen-mast, fore and maintop-masts, and main yard; 
received 100 shot in her hull; had thirty six killed and 
sixty-seven wounded. Among the former, the Boat- 
swain, master's mate, and school master; of the latter, 1st 
and iid Lieut, a masters mate ,and two Midshipmen. 
The United States had five only killed and six wound- 
ed ! Lieut. Funk was of the former number. So little 
was the United States damaged during the action that in 
five minutes she was fully repaired for another engage- 
ment. The security of her prize, however, requiring 
her company into port, she made for America, and on 
the 4th of December conducted the Macedonian safe 
into New-London. It so happened that the news of this 
third brilliant Naval victory was received at Washington 
the very evening that had been there previously fixed 
upon for a Naval Ball at which a large and very respect- 
able company were assembled ; a scene graced by nearly 
all the beauty and fashion of the city. All was joy and 
gaiety such as could scarcely admit of augmentation and 
yet it was destined to be increased. About 9 o'clock a 
rumor was spread that Lieut. Hamilton, the son of the 
secretary of the Navy, had reached the house, the 
bearer of the colors of the Macedonian and dispatches 
from Com. Decatur. The gentlemen crowded down 
to meet him. He was received with loud cheers and 
escorted to the festive hall, where awaited him the em- 
braces of a fond father, mother, and sisters ! It was a scene 
easier felt than described. The room in which the com- 
pany had assembled had been previously decorated with 
the trophies of Naval Victory. The colors of the Guer- 
iu j re and Alert were displayed on the wall, and the 
Flag of the Macedonian alone was w anting to complete 
the groirp. It was produced and borne into the hall by 
Capts, Hull and Stewart, and others of our brave seamen, 
amidst the loud acclamations of the company, and greet- 
ed with National music from the Band. 

An officer ot the frigate United States, speaking of 
the capture of the Macedonian, says — " I am aware it win 
be said, she is a little ship, with five guns less than you, 
and a hundred men less, and carries lighter metal, &lc. 
— well, all this is true — she is inferior in all these — but 



CAPTURE OF THE JAVA. 375 

she Is just such a ship as. the English have achieved all 
their single ship victories in — 'twas in such a ship that sir 
Robert Barlow took the Africaine — that sir Michael Sey- 
mour took the Brune, and afterwards the Niemen — that 
Capt. Milne took the Vengeance, Capt. Cook the La 
Forte, Capt. Lame, the Guerriere, Capt. Rowley the 
Venus, and God knows how many others ; she is, in 
tonnage, men and guns, such a ship as the English pre- 
fer to all others, and have, till the Guerriere's loss, 
always thought a match for any single decked ship afloat. 
You will observe the ship was just out of dock, her 
masts were better than the Guerriere's. She had taken 
no prises— her compliment was full. She was not built 
off fir, thirty years ago, as said of that ship, but of t\te 
best English oak, two years since." 



CAPTURE OF 

THE JAVA. 

BUT about two months after the capture of the 
Macedonian, the United States' frigate Constitution, then 
under the command of Com. William Bajnbridge, 
Achieved a most astonishing victory in capturing the 
British frigate Java, Capt. Lambert, mounting 49 guns, 
having a full complement for her crew, with upwards of 
one hundred supernumeraries, officers, and seamen, 
whom the Java was taking, out for the East-India service, 
in all, upwards of 400. 

This action took place on the 29th of December, 1812, 
off St. Salvador, on the coast of the Brazills, lat. 13, 6 
S. long. 38, W. about thirty miles from the shore, and 
lasted one hour and fifty-five minutes, when the Java 
was completely dismasted, not having a spar of any size 
standing. 

The action commenced at 10 minutes after 2 o'clock, 
P. M. the ships then half a mile apart, the Java keeping 
at a greater distance than wished by Com. Bainbridge, 



376 CAPTURE OF THE JAVA. 

which he could not prevent without danger of exposure 
to a raking fire. This danger he however thought best 
to encounter, as will appear by the following minutes 
from his log book : — 

At 2, 10 min. P. M. commenced tYie action within good 
grape and canister distance ; the euemy to windward, 
but much further than I wished, 

2, 30, Our wheel shot entirely away. 

2, 40, Determinied to close with the enemy, notwith- 
standing the raking; set the fore and main sail and 
luffed up to hitn. 

2, 50, The enemy's gib-boom got foul our mizcn rigging. 

3, 00, The head of the enemy's bowsprit and gib boom 
shot away. 

3, 05, Shot away the enemy's foremast by the board. 
-S, 15, Shot away his maintop-mast, jnst by the top. 
3, 40, Shot away his gaff and spanker-boom. 

3, 55, Shot away his mizen-mast just by the board. 

4, 05, Having silenced the fire of the enemy complete^', 
and his colors in the main rigging being down, suppos- 
ed He had struck, then hauled aboard the courses to 
shoot ahead to repair the rigging \:hich was extrenif ly 
cut, leaving the enemy a complete wreck. Soon after 
discovered the enemy's flag still flying— hove too to re- 
pair some of our damage. 

4, 20, The enemy's main-mast went nearly by the board. 
;, 50, Wore ship and stood for the enemy. 

5, 25, Got very near the enemy in a very effectual rak- 
ing position, when he most prudently struck his flag, 
for had he suffered the broadside to have raked him 
his additional loss must have been extremely great as 
he lay an unmanageable wreck upon the water. 

Capt. Lambert received a mortal wound at half past 
three o'clock, of which he afterwards died at St. Salva- 
dor, January 4th — On board the Java, says the official 
tetter of Com. Bainbridge, there were, " killed 60, and 
101 certainly wounded." The truth is, the officers of 
the Java took great pains to conceal both the number they 
had on board, and me amount of their loss, which, there 



CAPTURE OF THE JAVA. 377 

is good reason to believe, considerably exceeded the offi- 
cial account, great indeed as it was by that representa- 
tion. A letter written by H. D. Cornick, an officer of 
the Java, to his friend, and accidentally found, makes the 
number killed to be 60, the number wounded 170, who, 
perhaps, many of them, died before removal from the 
ship, in which there was great delay, all the boats of 
both ships, one ecxepted, having been destroyed during 
Hie engagement. The muster book of the Java had 440 
names, and the Constitution received from her, after her 
capture, including the wounded, but 341 ; leaving a de- 
ficiency of 99 killed and missing. It was alledged that 
about 40 of those on the muster book left the ship before 
she sailed from England ; but the muster book was dat- 
ed Nov. 1st, four days after the Java sailed. The Con- 
stitution had nine only killed ! Commodore Bainbridge, 
Lieut. Aylwin, and 23 others wounded ; her rigging 
much cut, but only three shot in her hull. 

The Constitution carried Fifty-Four guns. Her 
weight of shot in a broadside 677 lbs. 4 oz. The Java 
mounted Forty- Nine guns. Weight of shot in a broad- 
side 605 lbs. 

The prisoners were parolled at -St. Salvador, and were 
as follows :— — 1 Lieut. General — 1 Major — 1 Captain — 
1 Post Captain— 1 Master and Commander— 5 Lieuten- 
ants— 3 Lieutenants of Marines — 1 Surgeon — 2 Assistant 
Surgeons — J Purser--:—] 5 Midshipmen — 1 Gunner — - 
1 Boatswain— 1 Master — 1 Carpenter-— 2 Capts. Clerks—. 
Total 08 officers, with 323 petty officers, seamen, ma- 
rines, and boys. 

The Java was an important ship fitted out in com- 
pletest order to carry Lieut. General Hislop and his staff 
to Bomb? y, and several naval officers for different ships 
in the East-Indies, and had despatches for St. Helena, 
Cape of Good Hope, and every English establishment 
in the India and Chinese seas. She had also on board 
copper for a Seventy-Four and 2 brigs, building at Bom- 
bay. 

The Java was set on fire and blown up on the 31st of 
December, it being impossible to conduct her into port. 
Hh2 



S73 CAPTURE OF THE PEACOCK. 

The Constitution left St. Salvador January 6th, and 
arrived in Boston on the 8th of February, having, it is 
said, been fully prepared, on her way, to have at any time 
contended again for victory. Com. Bainbridge, on land- 
ing at Boston, was received with a salute of cannon and 
the loud acclamations of thousands. The streets were 
filled with a delighted populace, and the house and chim- 
ney tops were covered with people. The Legislature of 
Massachusetts being in Session passed a vote of thanks 
for the victory. 



CAPTURE OF 

THE PEACOCK. 

NOT two months after the capture of the Java, by 
the Constitution, the Hornet, sloop of war, commanded 
by Captain James Lawrence, gained a very illustrious 
triumph over the British man of war brig, Peacock, Cap- 
tain Peake, commander, off the mouth of Demarara 
river, on the South American coast. A little previously 
the Hornet had been busy, blockading the Bon Citoyenne> 
of 24 guns, a packet brig of 12 guns, and an armed 
schooner, in the harbor of St. Salvador, the blockade 
of which was raised by the arrival of a 74, which came 
there for the express purpose. 

The Peacock was discovered by the Hornet at 3, P M. 
February 24th, 1812, while engaged in beating round 
Carobana Bank, two and a half leagues from the Fort at 
the mouth of the Demarara river, in order to get at another 
English brig with colors flying without the bar. At 4 20, 
P. M. the Peacock hoisted English colors, at which time 
the Hornet cleared for action and beat to quarters. At 
5 10, finding she could weather the enemy, hoisted 
American colors and tacked. At 5 25, in passing each 
other, exchanged broadsides within half pistol shot. 

Observing the enemy in the act of wearing, the Hornet 
received his starboard broadside, ran him close on board 



catiuile of the peacock, 379 

the starboard quarter, and kept up so tremendous and well 
directed a fire that in less than 1 5 minutes she surrender- 
ed, (being entirely cut to pieces) and hoisted an ensign, 
union down, from his fore riging, as a signal of distress. 
Shortly after the main-mast went by the board. Lieut. 
Shubrick was sent on board and returned with word 
that she was sinking fast, having six feet of water in her 
hold. Boats were immediately dispatched to take oft 
the wounded and every exertion was made by plugging 
the shot holes, throwing over the guns, pumping and bail- 
ing, to keep her afloat till the prisoners could be removed^ 
but without effect, as she sunk in 5 1 2 fathoms water, car- 
rying with her 13 of her crew and three men belonging 
to the Hornet. Four others of the Peacock's crew at 
the moment of her going down, took shelter in a boat, 
which being much damaged and the waves running high, 
they are supposed to have been lost. Lieut. Connor and 
midshipman Cooper, with others of the Hornet's men 
engaged in taking off the prisoners, saved themselves by 
a boat. Four of the thirteen prisoners in the Peacock 
when she sunk, gained the mast head which continued 
out of water, and were taken off. 

Capt Peake and four men were killed in the action ; 
probably some others. The master, one midshipmau, car- 
penter and Capt's. clerk, with 29 privates were wounded, 
most of them severely, three of whom died of their 
wounds. 

The Hornet had but one killed and two slightly 
wounded by the enemy. Two others were wounded, 
one mortally, by the explosion of a catridge. Rigging 
and sails much cut, one shot through the fore-mast, the 
bowsprit sjightly injured. The hull received little or 
no damage. 

During the action the Espeigle of 18 guns, the brig 
mentioned as lying at anchor, was in sight. After the 
action with the Peacock, it being thought the Espeigle 
might attempt to beat out, the, Hornet repaired, and by 
9 P. M. was completely ready for another action 

The Peacock, was, about the tonnage of the Hornet, 
4 inches wider, but not so long by 4 feet. She mount- 
ed 20 guns, besides 2 swivels, and was manned by 135 



380 CAPTURE OP THE CHESAPEAKE^ 

men ; precisely the number mustered and able to do 
duty on board the Hornet. The Hornet mounted 20 
guns. 

Three Impressed Americans, on board the Peacock, 
were less fortunate than those on board the Guerriere, 
having been compelled to fight. One of them was killed, 
and one of those who survived the action proved to be a 
cousin to the Lady of Capt. Lawrence ! The Macedonian, 
it may be remarked, had also two Impressed Americans 
on board, who were compelled to fight, one of whom 
was killed. His name was John Cand, a native of the 
District of Maine, where he had a wife and child 

Captain Lawrence with the prisoners taken from the 
Peacock returned to the U. States, arriving at Holme's 
Hole on the 19th of March, thence through the sound 
at New York, on the 24th, amidst the plaudits of an ex- 
ulting Nation. 



CAPTURE OF 

THE CHESAPEAKE. 



THE daring and victorious Lawrence received, 
soon after his return from the distinguished cruise which, 
resulted in the capture of the Peacock, the command of 
the Chesapeake frigate of Thirty- Six guns. While lying 
in Boston harbor, the 1st day of June, 1813, the British 
frigate Shannon, which, with the Tenedos, had been 
sometime cruising in the bay, then in sight, he became 
induced, though in opposition to a force of decided su- 
periority, to assert the rights of the United States against 
an invading foe. 

At this time 100 of his crew had never performed a 
cruise. The 1st Lieut. 21 years only of age; the 2d 
Lieut, sick, and not on board, his place occupied by the 
Lieut, n^xt in rank ; the 3d and 4th Lieuts. Midshipmen 
acting as Lieutenants. That however, Capt. Lawrence 



CAPTURE OF THE CHESAPEAKE. 331 

had not confidence both in his crew and officers, is a sup- 
position not to be indulged. 

On the 25th of May, the Shannon and Tenedos sepa- 
rated, the Captain of the Tenedos having been enjoined 
by Capt Broke, of the Shannon, not to rejoin him till 
about the 14th of June. This say the Halifax, (British) 
accounts was done in the hope and expectation that the 
Chesapeake frigate, finding the Shannon alone, off Bos- 
ton, would come out and give her battle — Captain Broke 
well knowing the forpe he proposed inviting to an en- 
gagement, was of course prepared for the fight with all 
possible care and attention. To a crew unusually large 
he added a number of picked men, from other vessels, 
particularly an officer and 16 men from the Belle Poul ? 
and a part of the crew of the Tenedos. The Shannon 
rated Thirty- Eight and mounted Fifty-Two guns. In 
the morning of the 1st of June, the Shannon stood* in 
close to Boston Light-House, and hoisted British colors, 
the Chesapeake lying at anchor, and in sight. 

At 8 o'clock, A. M. the Chesapeake unmoored, and 
about noon, got under way and stood out for the Shannon. 
The Shannon edged off, followed by the Chesapeake. 
As the latter vessel passed the Light-House, the Shannon 
bore E. S. E. six leagues. At 4 o'clock, P M. the Shan- 
non still standing out to sea, distant about 7 miles from 
the Chesapeake, the Chesapeake hauled up, hoisted jib 
and stay-sails, and fired a gun ; upon which the enemy 
immediately bore to, reefed his top-sails and lay by, on 
the starboard tack, the Chesapeake in chase. Half past 
4, the Chesapeake hoisted the American flag at the miz- 
en-top gallant mast head. 

About 1 5 minutes before 6, when within pistol shot of 
the Shannon the Chesapeake received her broadside, 
which was returned, and, at the first fire, Capt. Lawrence 
was wounded in the leg. Three or four broadsides only 
were exchanged when the Chesapeake had her head-top- 
sail-tie shot away, and her spanker brails fouled by cut 
rigging. Capt. Lawrence was wounded, mortally, through 
the body, by a musket ball,. and carried below. Mr. 
Ludlow, 1st Lieut, was twice wounded, by musket or 



382 CAPTURE OF THE CHESAPEAKE. 

grape shot. Mr. Ballard, 4th Lieut, had his leg shdt 
from his body. Mr. White, the master, was killed. Mr. 
Broom, Lieut, of marines, and the boatswain, mortally 
wounded. 

In about 12 minutes from the beginning of the action, 
the Chesapeake, being unmanageable, fell on board the 
Shannon, when the enemy threw, suddenly, 200 men 
upon her decks. The Chesapeake's boarders were call- 
ed, but the man whose duty it was to give the signal did 
not give it. Mr. Budd, 2d Liejit. being told by the 
Captain's aid that the boarders were called, instantly 
headed his and Mr. Cox's division, sprung on deck 
where he found the enemy had already possessed him- 
self of the quarter deck. He immediately gave orders 
to haul on board the fore tack, for the purpose, if possible, 
of shooting the ship dear of the other, and then made 
an attempt to regain the quarter deck, but was wounded 
and thrown down on th« gun deck. Afterwards, almost 
immediately, the enemy succeeded in gaining complete 
possession of the ship. Capt. Lawrence had been car- 
ried below before any attempt was made to board. He 
survived till the 4th of June, repeatedly exclaiming,- in 
the course of the delirium brought on him by his wounds, 
" Do>'r give vp the sfiip." He was buried at Halifax, 
with military honors; but that the country which he so 
much honored in life need not want the glory of embo- 
soming in her own soil the mortal remains of her fallen 
Hero, a vessel offered for that purpose, by Capt. George 
Crowninshield, of Salem, Massachusetts, has been privi- 
leged with a Gag to go and bring from Halifax the body of 
Capt. Lawrence, which it is expected will be entombed at 
Salem, after pronunciation of an Eulogy by Mr. Story, one 
of the Judges of the Supreme Court of the United 
States. The vessel which has sailed for this purpose is 
manned by 12 Captains of ships. Lieutenant Bal- 
lard survived his wound but 15 minutes — Lieutenants 
Ludlow, Budd, and Cox, are recoveiing of their wounds. 
Livingston, Evans, and Hopewell, midshipmen, were 
among the slain, the number of which was great, aug- 
mented doubtless, very much, by the inhumanity of the 
victors, who continued firing after ail resistance had 



CAPTURE OT THE CHESAPEAKE. 833, 

ceased. Several vollies of musketry were after the sur- 
render, fired down the hatchway and into the cockpit 
among the wounded The enemy, by their own account, 
lost their 1st Lieutenant, purser, Captain's clerk, and 23 
seamen killed; Capt. Broke, a midshipman, and 56 sea- 
men wounded. Other accounts make the number of 
their killed and wounded much greater. The Chesa- 
peake had 48 killed, and 98 wounded, Capt. Broke was 
wounded from a sabre on the head while in the act of 
boarding; he received also other severe wounds. He 
remained delirious for a long time, and so late as in July, 
when last heard from, was considered as being danger- 
ously ill. 

The Shannon received five shot under water ; one 
through her copper, and had her rigging and masts much 
cut. The damage she sustained was much, greater than 
that sustained by the Chesapeake. Mr. Wallace, 2d 
Lieut, of the Shannon, has been stated to have informed 
Mr. Chew, purser of the Chesapeake, that they could 
not have continued the action and kept their ship afloat 
but a few minutes longer. But for the early loss of offi- 
cers belonging to the Chesapeake, the Captain, 4th Lieut, 
the Master, and the Lieut of Marines, falling the first 
five minutes of the action, the struggle might and pro- 
bably would have eventuated very differently. Consid- * 
ering the sinking state of the Shannon, after the exchange 
of but from three to four broadsides, it seemed only to 
have been necessary, in order to have reversed the for- 
tune of the day to have fought separate from each other 
a little longer. 

The unmanagable condition of the Chesapeake, 
occasioned by damage done her rigging, left her to 
fall on board her antagonist, under the disadvantages 
which have been described. Could the animating pres- 
ence of the fallen Lawrence have directed thereafter, 
had in fact tha immense force thrown suddenly upon the 
Chesapeake, not availed themselves of a moment when 
the inferior numbers of their opponent were without a 
leader, every officer on deck having been killed, or severe- 
ly wounded, they had had, it is believed, much less from 
which to derive satisfaction. The fortune of war, it is to 



384 CAPTURE OF THE CHE3APEAKE. 

be confessed, however, is never known to be without its 
inconstancy, and the unthinking only, and those ignorant 
of what all history sets before them, can enterfain, for a 
moment, the presumption that uninterrupted triumph can 
rest upon any banners, however fortified by skill and 
made unconquerable by valor. If, in the instance here 
recorded, the smile of Victory seem for a time to have 
denied it's accustomed charms, it should be our recollec- 
tion that its return can scarcely be either slow or doubtful 
to arms it has in so many instances delighted to crown 
with a brilliancy which will never fail to erradiate the an- 
nals of American warfare. 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Bolton. 
John Carver, 3d. John Churchill, Abjjah Markhara, 
Josia^i Fox, Win. W. Gampbell,Robert M'Cleve, 

Richard Penhollow^Daniel Cheney, 6. ElishaNiles, 



Bridgeport. 
W. H. Jesup 
Ephraim Kamp. 

Branford. 
Mason Hobart, 
W. R. Johnson, 
OrinD. Squire. 

Berlin. 
E. Brandegee, jr. 
Daniel S. Curtis, 
John Goodrich, jr. 
Lines Hubbard. 

Bristol. 
Isaac Hinsdale, 
Nathan Wildman, 
Daniel Wildman, jr. Giles Gardner, 

Bridgeport. Ansel Hurlburt, 



Peter Cachchran, 
John Carr, 
Harvy Cornwall, 
Thomas Child, 
Ichabod Cook, 
Jesse Clark, 
Orin Chapman, 
Oliver Clark, 
Sally Dixon, ^ 
Silas Eddy, 



Enos Potter, 
Abner^Post, 
Robert Patent, 
Agift Pease, 
Reuben Ranney, 
Joseph Ranney, 
Stephen Qanney, 
Joel Randell, 
Huntington Stlden, 
George Sutliffs, 



Jeremiah Goodrich.Abel Shepard, jr. 
Joseph Coodrich, James Stanlift, 



Willard Cladding, 
Nathan Gillum, 
Russell Gates, 



Ephraim Knap. 
Canterbury. 
James Asp en wall. 
Canaan. 



Russell Hills, 
Samuel Hall, 
Jesse Hall, 
D. B. Holister, 



Ebenezer PomeroyJessee Hurd,jr. 
Clmtham. N. Hauselkuse, 



George Bell, 
George Bidwell, 
Chauncey Beach, 
Samuel Buck, 
Enos Brainard, 
William Case, 
Erick Cornwall, 



Chauncey Hills, 
Joel Jones, 
Joel Jacobs, 
William Kellogg, 
John Kay, 
M. P. Marther, 
Charles Munn, 
Hh 



Benjamin Sherman, 
James Stewart, 
Richard M. Smith, 
Joseph Wells, 
Runey Wetherill, 
Jabez Williams, 
David Wyllys. 
Ellington. 
Arckluss Fetcher, 

Enfield. 
Moses W. Beckley, 
James M. Chester, 
EHsha Halton, 
John King, 
Asa Meacham, 
Abial Pease, 
R & L. Parsens 
kCo. 



374 



CONNECTICUT. 



Horace Pease 
Samuel Pease 3 
Luther Pease, 
J. L. Reynolds, 
Abiel Terry 



Emily Holister, 

Zeiel Howss, 

Joseph Hilboura, 

Abel Lewis, 

David Lovelands, 

Mathew Miller jr. 

Benjamiu Moseley, Grolon. 

Joseph Mitchell Asa L. Avery, 

Isaac Oleott, 

Natuaniel Porter, 



Joseph Smith, 
Franklin Shay lor, 
Samuel Veils, 
John Wilson, jr. 
Samuel Woodruff, 
Charles Washburn. 



Farmington. 
Jonathan Barnes, 

Augustus Bidwell, Isaac Oleott, Christopher Avery, 

Noadiah Bird, Natuaniel Porter, John Barber, 

E. Cowles, &. Co. Joel Porter, Noyes Barber, 

James K. Camp, David Pease, Elijah Baily, 

Jonathan Cowles, B. Risley, 2d. Franklin Burdick, 

Chauncey Deming, James Robinson, Alfred Baily, 
Eben Felid, William Smith, Nat. G. Chipman, 

George B. Gleason, Samuel Sellew, Elisha Chester, 
Alfred Hull, Jedediah Smith, John Hudson, 

Jeremiah Humason,Benjamin B. Smith,Alvert Latham, 
Benjamin Latimore,Elisha Stocking;, Daniel Latham, 
Porter &. Norton, Zadock Stocking, 
Noah L Phelps, Mary Stration, 
Alford Rose, Walter Stevens, 

Sylvester Shephard,Rachel Treat, 
William Standley, David Taylor, 
Pomroy Strong, Nancy Taylor, 
Jesse Vibbert, 



Chauncey Sweet, 
Glastonbury. 
Justus Blin,, 
John Case, 

Chauncey Dudley, John Wheat, 
Benjamin Ellis, 
Israel Fox, 
Israel Goodrich, 
Jesse Gains, 
Elisha Hale, 
Gideon Hale, 
Ebenezer Hale, 
Timothy Hale, 
Jehid Hale, 
Thomas Hale, 
Aivin Hunt, 
BUjah Holister, 



David Mitchill, 
Henry Niies, 
Luke Perkins, 
Christopher White, 
S. S. Walworth. 

Guilford. 
George Bassett, 
Elnathan Wheelor, Thomas Burgis, 
Joseph Whitney, Heman Coe, & Co. 
Calven Whitney, Darius Crampton, 
Jonathan Crampton, 
Granby. Usher Conklin, 

Phineas Andrus, 2. Darius Coe, 
Robert Church, Ralph I.Chittenden 
Peter Drown, John R. Chittenden, 

James H. Ha!comb,Charles A. Dodd, 
John F. Halcomb, Wm. G. Frazier, 



Erastus Halcomb, 
James Lewis, 6. 
Pliny Newton, 
Nathaniel Prits, 
Alien Robbins, 
Nathaniel Sotey, 



Luke Field, 2d. 
Curtis Fairchild, 
Alvah B. Goldsmith 
Stephen Griswold, 
Eber Hotchkiss. 
Jesse Jay, 



CONNECTICUT. 



37.fi 



Elisha Parmelee, George Benton, 2d Charles Dodd, 
Harvey Parmelee, Francis Bancraft, Thomas Dodd,, 
ftosseter Parmelee,Jason Bunce, Joseph Day, 

Horace Peck, Nehemiah Bryant, Enoch Dewey, 

Martin Page, Jonathan Butler, 2d. John Durrie, 

Russell Spencer, Benjamin Bishop, Moses Dorr, 
Timothy Stone, 3d.Zenas Brace, Daniel Dewey, 

Taber Smith, John Brag, B. B. Dimmock 

David Woodward, William Benham, Joseph Dalliby 



Ozias Whedon, 
AgurWildman, 
Chapman Warner, 

Hartford. 
Augustus Averill, 
John Anderson, 
Tim. Anderson, jr. 
Augustus Andrus, 
Samuel Atkins, 
Allyn Bacon, 
Jonathan Brace, 
I. D. Bull, 
Orin Beckly, 
Dudly Buck, 
Jeremiah Brown, 
Daniel Bunce, jr. 



Giles Barnes, 
Wm. Balciv 
Tymothy Bryant, 
John Bowles, 2d. 
Charles J. Cone, 
Freeman Crocker, 
S. W. Candee, 
Thomas Chester, 
John Caldwell, 
E. Colt, 
E. P. Corning, 
George Collier, 
Clarisa Clark, 
George CatMn, 
Leonard Curtis, 
Shubael Corning, 



Joshua P. Burnham George Corning, 
Joseph Belden, Asher Coe, 



Rufus Bunce, Henry Corning, 

George Barnard, H. Child, 

Wm. H. Brace, Whiting Clark, 

Charles Bacon, Roswell Curtis, 

J. & I. Bolles, Joel Carter, jr. 

Joseph Bunce, William Corning, 

Albro A. Bradly, M. F. Cogswell, 

George Bacon, Barna Collins, 

Samuel Butler, Roderic Colton, 

Horace Be^kwith, Cook & Church, 

Edw. S. Bellamy, William Chapman, Edwin Gay lord, 

Levi Bunce, Timothy Chapin Benjamin Gilbert, 

Catherine Bigelow, Phips Deming, Moses Goodwin, 

Ebenezer Bryant, Enos Doolittle, Solomon Goodrich. 

Jedediah Bingham/Theron Deming, John Goodwin, 2d 



Alenson Elmer, 
Hannah Ervin, 
Samuel M Elmore, 
Joseph Elmore, jr. 
Abel Flint, 
Asa Farewell, 
Luther Freeman, 
Horace Ferry, 
Chloe Filly, 
Edmund Ferry, 
George Flagg, 
John Flagg, 
Ebenzer Faxon, 
Elias Frink, 
Thomas Faxon^ 
John Fitts, 
James W. Graham, 
Jeremiah Graves, 
John M. Gannet, 
George Goodwin, 
S. F. Griswold, 
R. E. Goodwin, 
George Goodwin jr. 
James Geer, 
Joseph Gilbert, 
Samuel Galpin, 
James Goodwin, 
Aaron Goodman, 



376 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Asa Goodwin, Jesse Lyman, 

Wait Griswold, Joseph Lynde, 

H. Hudson, Elijah Loomis, 

James B. Hosmer, Win. Mosely, 

Philo Hiilyer, Daniel Miller, 

Horatio G. Hale. Nathan Morgan, 

H. A. Huntington, Sidney Merrill, 

J. Hempsted, jr. Ebei Moore, 

Asa Hopkins, Uzal Miner, 

Daniel Hophins, David W. Moor, 

Lemuel Hurlburt, Adonijah Moody, John Jmith, 

Minor Hillard, William B. May > S.H.Spencer, 

Robart Harris, Elisha Mix, 

James D. Hurlburt,G. W. Maynard, 

Noah Humphrey, Henry Mires, 

Daniel Hinsdale, jr.Samuel Mix, 

Nathan Johnson, John Marsh, jr. 



Horace Seymour, 
Samuel Slater, 
Robart Silcock, 
Heppy Steele, 
Melisa Sikes 
Seth Swetser, 
S. H. Stocking, 
John Spencer, 
Stephen Spencer, 
C. Seymour, 



Daniel Stedman, 
Roderick Seymour, 
Homas Stire, 
W. Stephenson, 
Russell Skinner, 
Silas W. Johnson, Sylvester H. Mills, John Steele, 
Eii Johnson, George L. Meigs, Richard Shepard, 

Davis Johnson, John Nott, Asa Smith, 

Elihu Johnson, Frederick Oaks, Amureth Smith) 
Alfred Janes, Francis L. OImsted,Lucius Shepard, 

Henry Johnson, T. W. Putnam, Chester Seymour, 
Abner Jones, Jesse Porter, Lucy Steele, 

Webster. &. John- N. A. Phelps, jr. Tim. Sedgwick, jr. 

son, Joseph Pratt jr. Ruth Sedgwick, 

Milton Jennings, Eli azer Porter, Ethan Smith, 
John M. Johnson, Lyman Parsons, Wm. Stedman, 
Charles Jabine, Elijah Purchase, Eben'r. Sedgwick, 
A. Kingsbury, George J. Patten, John Steele, 2d. 

Samuel Kellogg jr. Sylvester W. Riley ,Romanta Seymour, 
David Knox, Russell Robbins, 6 Theodore Spencer, 



Norman Knox, Seth Richards, 
EJiazar Kingsbury, Mervin Rick, 



Anson Kellog 
S. S. Kennedy, 
North Libra, W. 
Hartford, 

Cyprian Lee, 
Jonathan L^w, 



Ephraim Root, 
Chandler Rose, 
Lewis Roberscn. 



Samuel Steele, 
John Sheffield, 
Jona.. Sheffield, 
Joseph Trumbull, 
Seth Terry, 



Himeon L. Loomis.Israel Stbckin 
lehabod Lyman, Michael Shepn 



Frederick Robbins, Russell Talcott, 
I. L. Skiner, John Thomas, 

Jared Scarborough^ mon Thrasher, 
Horace Taylor, 
dj Wm. Tinker, 



CONNECTICUT. 



377 



Pierpont Hollister, David Croweley, 
Win. Jones, Julius Church, 

Chester Lyman, John Cook, 
Amariah Miller, C. C. Gates, 
Norraand Olmsted, Mathan L. Foster, 
Phinehas Gates, jr. 



Moses Tryon, 
Nathan Tinker, 
Diodat Taylor, 
Fredus Vanhorn, 
James Wells, 

Daniel Wads worth, Job Porter, 
J. R. Woodbridge, Joseph Perry, 
Spencer Whiting, George Rich, 
David Waikinson, Samuel Riley, 
George White, Elisha Risley, 
Erastus Wheeler, Stephen Simonds, 
Fred'k. Wadsworth,Reuben Stedman, 
Robert Waterman, Haddam. 

James S. Wickham,David Ronfrey, 
James H. Welles, Samuel Colton, 
Harry Winship, J & S Huntington, 6W'm, Olmsted^ 
James Winship, Ezra Kelcey, Wm. Palmer, 

Ashbel Wells, Rinus Parmelee, 12. Asa Smith, 

Joseph Whiting, jr. Selden Skinner, Daniel M. Seely,. 
John Whitman, Samuel Spencer, 
Elisha Wells, jr. East-Haddam. 

Dyer White, Jehiel Amable, 

Joseph Webster, Elijah Ackley, jr. 
John Weaver Charles Atwood, 

Lemuel White D. C. Blakeslee, 
East-Harlford. Horace Belden, 
Samuel F. Allen, Jesse Bigelow, 
Daniel Bidwell, Jos. Brainard, 
Walter Burt,. Oliver Brainerd, 

Betsy Butler, Joseph Brainerd, 6. Andrew Hopkins. 

Matthew G. BackusNoah Bulkeley, Adna Johnson, 
Channcey Bryant, Robert B ChapmanNathan Kingsbury, 
Eli Cheney, Newel Cone, Martin Leonard, 

Stephen Cowles, Sylvester Chapmanlsaac Newell, 
Catherine Cullio, Robert D Cone, Benjamin Smith, 
Elijah Dewey, Rieuben Champion, Jacob Whiting, 

Chester Drake, Wm. Church, 6. Hampton, 

Eli Evens, Dan Chadwiek, Roswell Bill, 

Justin EastoD,jr.-. Grin Chapman, 6. Simeon Burnham, 
Mart Forbs, Asa Chapman, Nathan U. Clark, , 

Wm. Fuller, Wiliiam Church, Jonathan Clark, 

Rhoda Green, G. L. Chapman, David Simons. 

Fpaphras Hills, H h 2 



Jonah Gates, 
Darius Gates, 
Wm. Hall, 
Elisha Johnson^ 
Sylvanus Lindsley,. 
Thomas MoseJy, 
George Morgan, 
John Marshall, 
ephas Niles, 



Sylvanus Tinker, 
Amasa Warner, 
Aaron Watson, 

Hamden. 
Levi Balding, 
Joseph BaH, 
Jotham Fenton^ 
Lyman Ford, 
Aaron Fuller, 
Major Goodsell, 



SUBSCR1BER3 NA3IS3. 



Kittingsworth. 

John E. Bray, 
Hubbard Bradley, 
Henry Brown, 
Elias Buslinell. 
Benjamin Dewolf, 
James Farnam, 
James N. Griffin 
Joshua Gladding, 
Joseph Hillard, 
Oliver Hull, 
Isaac Redfield, 6. 
David Rossetter, 
Wm. Wiltcox, 
John Waterhouse, 

Lebanon. 
Peter C. Brown, 
Roxana Lathrop, 



Wm. Rew, 

Lewis Stone, 
Wm. Smith, 
Amzy Smith, 
Wm. Ward, jr. 
R. L. Whaples. 

Longmeadorv. 
Saben Burt, 6. 
John Burt, 
Gaius Bliss, 
Daniel Barker, 
Levi Baker, 
Chauncey Bliss, 
Levi Case, 
G.&W. Colton, 
Demas Colton, 
Jesse Cady, 
Caleb Cooley, 



Denison Wattles, jr. Simon Colton, 



Lisbon. 
John Cady, 
Waterman Hyde, 
Harriot Morgan, 
James Stelson, 
Freeman Tracy, 



Isaac Caskins, 
Elijah Field, 
I. & D. Gates, 
Stephen Keep, 
Amos Parker, 



Metridem 
Isaac I. Hough, 
Middletorm. 
Elisha Austen, 
Ichabod Avery, 
Nathan S. Angel I, 
iniliam Beecher, 
Butler B. Belden, 
Samuel Boardman, 
Asahel C. Bates, 
O. D. Beebe, 
Charles Brewer, 
William Bishop, 
Manoah Brace, 
Eleazer Badger, 
Eiizur Barnes, 
Elijah Bemiss, 
Louden Bailey, jr. 
John Bound, 
W. R. Beach, 
John Butler, 
C. Beebe, 
Abraham Brown, 
Lewis Clark, 



Samuel C. StebbinsOliver Cook, 



Thomas C. Wilber, Levi E. Taylor, 



Litchfield. 
Luman Agard, 
Harry Buckley, 
Almon Baldwin, 
Lewis Beecker, 
Erastus Bradley, 



Walter White, 

Lyme. 
James Maynard, 
Gilbert Smith, 6. 
Marlborough. 
Otis Alvord, 



John Cunningham, Ira Culver, 
J jhn Churchill, jr. Joseph Carrier, 
Dan. Huniington, jr.H. W. Fanning, 



C. Hotchkis?, 
Freeman Kilborn, 
Isaac Marsh, 
Zenas Neal, 
Elias M'Neal, 
D n id Perry, 
Virgil Peck. jr. 



Roger Eoote, 
Asa Foote, 
Allen House, 

Mansfield. 
John Anderson, 
Aaron Janes, 



John Church, 
Stephen Crittenton, 
Giles Cone, 
Alfred Cone, 
Samuel Cotton, 
Thomas Child, jr. 
Joseph Crandall, jr, 
Calvin Cornwell, 
Samuel Cooper, 
Elihu Cotton Jr. 
George Durrie, 
Eleazer Doud, 
Oliver C Denslow, 
Richard Dillan, 
Franklin Deming, 
Abel Edwards, 



Marvin Shumway, Cyprian Galpin, 



CONNECTICUT. 



379' 



Samuel Gaylord, 
William Gaylord, 
BeDJamin Graves, 
Ashly Gibbs, 
Benjamin Hull, 



John S. Sumner, Oliver Overton, 
Ambros Seymour, Silas Oviatli, 
Edwin Smith, Samuel Peck jr. 

Quartus Smith, Michael Peck, 3 d . 
Daniel H. Smith. Ebenezer Sturges, 6 
Samuel Humphrey,Amasa Savage, Daved Stoughton, 
I, B. Johnson, Aaron R. Savage, Mary Stow, 
William Jones, Jesse Savage, Wm. Strong, 

Jehiel Johnson, Jacob Thompson, Joseph Whiting, -jfi 
Stebbins Johnson, Samuel Trask, J. Whiting, 
John Lees, Walter Woodwortb, Monlville. 

William Little, Asa White, JosiahL. Baker, 

Samuel Landers, Thomas White, Samuel Comstock, 
Jacob White, 2d. W. W, Haughten, 
William B. Hart, 6. George G. Latimer, 
Caleb Mapels, 
Betsey Ransom, 



Noah Lucas, 

Isaac Matoon, 

Henry S. Nichols, John Warner, 

Nathaniel Newbury, Isaac Warner, 



Ashbel Post, Samuel Young, David Turner, 

John Pran, Milford. New-Haven. 

James Parcells, Philip Bull, William C.Atwater, 

John Phillips, S- Burkingham, Moses Bleecher, jr. 

E. M. Pomeroy, Lyman Bradley, Isaac Bassett, 
Charles Peufield, David L. Baldwin, Lemon Chatfield, 
Barnni Plume, I. BuU, Joseph N. Clark, 

William Rainy, Wm. Bush, Joel Cook, 

Samuel W. Russell,F. Coggshall, Samuel Chapman, 

Pliineas Roberts. Amanda Davidson, Solomon Davis, 
Noadiah Rockwell, Mason A. Durand, Julius Darrow, 
Richard Rand, Francis M. French, James English, 
T. Richardson, Wm. H, Fowler, Aaron English, 
Horace Stocking, Samuel B. Gunn, 
William Stonard,2dStephen Hooker, 



A. Savage jr. 
John S. Sage, 
Jabez Stratton, 
Oliver Smith, 
Asa Sage 
W. R. Swatliel, 
Benjamin Suells, 



John Hepburn jr. 
Noah Kelsey, 
Eli Lockwood, 
Wm.M. Mills, 
David Mills, 
Binajah Mallery, 
»#nson Merwin, 



Alpheus Shumway,John J. Minor, 6. 
John H. Sumner, Miles, Strong &c 



Waterman Eddy, 
Nehemiah B Fisher, 
Ebenezer Fisher, . 
Miles Gorham, jr. 
C. Hequembourg jr. 
Reuben Hall, 
Gorham &c Hooker, 
Ezekiel Hotchkiss^ 
Stephen Hine, 
Wyllys Hotchkiss^ 
John Hubbard. 



James P. Starr, 



Miles, 



6. George Johnson, 



380 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Richard Savage, 
Joseph Sis tare, 
Asa Spencer, 
Renry P Taber, 
Isaac Thomson, 2d. 
Benjain Turpi*, 
Thomas Williams, 



Joseph Williams, 
Joshua M. Young, 
Wm. Young, 

Norwcdk. 
A. &.N. Beers, 3. 



Joshua M : Kee, Joha French, 

Ransom Lines, John Ferguson, jr, 

Shubel Lines John A Fulton, 

Zadok Mack, Joshua Holt, 

William Mansfield, Wyllys Hall, 

Budington &. Polly, Orlando Hailam, 

William Peckham, Nathan Howell, 

Stephen S. Porter, Thomas Hempsted,Samutl White, 

Egbert D. Peck, J. Hempsted, 2d. Nancy Williams, 

Aaron S. Raymond,David Harris, 

Rice, Stone, & Co. Colby C Holms, 

Edmond Smith, George I. Jewett, 

Ebenezer Thayer, Chester Kimball, 

William Walter jr. Guidon Kimball, 

New- London. Chester Kimball, jr. Amnion Benedict, 
Enos Ayres, Daniel Keeney, 3d. Levi Clinton, 

David Adams, jr. Wm. Lax, Thomas Fitch, 

Harrinton Austin. Asa Lay, Samuel R. Gibbs, 

Jeremiah Brainard, Thomas Luvin* John W. Hanford, 6 
Charles Butler, Hustin Lewis, Stephen Johnson, 

Chauncey Butler, E. L Manwarring, Joseph Keeler, 

Alanson Miller, William Lockwood, 

John Maniene, 

E. P Miner, 

Elisha Miller, 

Amasa Miller, 6: 

John Mason, 2d. 

N. Otis, 

Joshua Potter, 

James Petters, 

Alfred Pember, 

David Prentis, 

Kimbell Prince, 

Henry Roberts, 

Charles Reed, jr. 

Zepha. Risley, 

John Rob* rtsoii, 



Wm Butler, 
L. H Bulkeley, 
John O'Brine, 
Hubbil Brooks, 
Amos Baldwin, 
C. Baldwin jr. 2. 
Samuel Coit, 2d. 
Alfred Chester, 
Wm. C. Coster, 
Wm H. Clark, 
Ehhu Crocker, 
Josiah Clarke, jr. 
Charles Cobb, 
John Coit, 
Samuel Coit, 
I. Crocker, 
James Dennison, 
Pearce Dai row, 
George Destin, 
Charles Dart, 



Alfred Malleery, 
Benjamin St. John, 

Nowvich. 
Timothy Andrews, 
Wm. Albertson, 
Samuel Allen, 
Gurdon Armstrong, 
L Armstrong, 
Jabez Armstrong, jr 
Oliver Avery, 
Giles Buckingham, 
Seabury Brewster, 
Wm. C. Boon, 
Kleazer Bushnell, 
John D Brown, 



Zebadiah Rodgers, Thomas Burnham, 
Jonathan Starr, jr. Simon Backus, 
Nam. Saltonstall, Charles Burdiek, 
J. B. Sheffield, James N. Barber, 



£phraim-M* Frink, Wm. Stplkman^ John Backus, 



CONNECTICUT, 



383 



Oliver I?atty, Phileman Havens, John Webb, 

James F. Brown, Gilbert Huntington, B. P. Wattles, 
Erastus Coit, Edward Harland, Joseph Williams, 

Joseph Chester, George D. Harris, Caleb Woodworm, 
Horace Colton, Philip Huntington, Henry Ward, 
Thomas Cowdrey, Ebenezer Hyde, jr. John Yale, 
Wm. Clegg. Vine Hovey, Theophilus Yale, 

Nathl. Henrick, Plainjidd, 

Eben'r. Hempsted, Wm. Bliss, 
James Huntington, John Bastholic,, 
Shubael Hibbard, Silas Bailey, jr. 
Park Lucas, John Cleveland, 

Ebedezer Latham, Oliver Coats, 
Jacob Lumbard, Rufus Davison, 
Mathew Leffang well Joel Dim mock, 



H. L. Champlin, 
Wm. Colly han, 
George W. Clark, 
John Cox, 
I. P. Chapman, 
Wm. Chip man, 
I. R. Comstock, 
JFm. Chapman, 
Samuel Case, 



Elias Lord, 



Samuel Charleton, Daniel Leach, 
Abner Crawley, Simon Lathrop, 
Ann Calkias, 
Daniel A. Cary, 
Jedediah Corning. 
I. Caswold, 



I. P. Coney, 
Mecijah Davis, 
Hannah Dunham, 
G. W. Daniels, 
Gilbert Denison, 
Joshua Davis, 



Wilber Eldrid, 
Nathaniel French, ; 
Arnold Fenner, 
Wm. Hopkins, 
Allen Harris, 
Wm. Harris, 
Thos. Marshall, jr. Samuel Hartshorn, 
Samuel Manning, Reuben Jepherson, 



Leonard Lamb, 
Lura Larcumb, 
Abel Malison, 



James Maples, 
John Nichols, 
Betsy Newbury, 
L. M. Rockwell, 
Dyar Raymond, 



Derutha Edgevton, Joseph Rogers, 
Gurdon Edgerton, Henry Reonalds, 



Wm. Edgerton, 
James Fowler, 
James Felimore, 
George Gilbert, 
Thomas Gavit, 
Asa Gavit, 
Daniel D. Gifford, 
Charles Godell, 
Judah Hart, 
Ephraim Harris, 



John Lester, 6. 
John Mash, 
Henry C. Miller, 
Gideon Moury, 
James Ormsbee, 
Ransom Perkins., 
Sanford Pearce, 
N. C. Pearce, 



Samuel Story, jr. 

Joseph StreambackjChester Park*, 

Charles Sherman, John Paine, 



Roger Smith, Daniel Read, 

Nathan Story, Joseph Robertson, 

Caleb &nell, Isaac Smith, 

Nathaniel Tray, Waterman Shepard 

Albert Turney, Wm. Stewart, 

Cary Throop, Reuben Scott, 
Simond Thomas, 2dHarvey Shepard, 

Felix A. HuntingtonErastus Torrey, Daniel Wilcox, 

Elijah Herick. David Taher, Becuet Wheeler, 



sa2 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Brownel WilkinsonTitus Seymour 

Pomfret. L. Smith. 

Daniel Perrin, jr. 6. Warren. 

Gurdon Robinson, 6 David Hopkins. 
Preston. Saybrook. 

Abraham S. Avary,John Bull, 
Erastus Bailey, Daniel Bates, 
Lyman Bacon, Levi Buckingham, 



David Williams, 3d 
Charles Whittlesey. 

Somers. 
Noah Buikley, 
Vashni Hall 

Sterling. 
Wheaton Bailey 
Cyres Bates 



Haddeus C. Brace, EbenY Bushnell, 2dGurdon Bailey 
Henry Baker, Jabez Bushnell, Nathan Benchlus 

Gameliel Conklin, Elias Blanchard 



N. C. Bowen, 
Chester Butts, 
Weden Clark jr. 
John Corning, 
John Clapp, 



Wm. Crane, 
Bani Denison, 
Sprague G Fish, 
Ezekiel Glover, 



Leonard Edwards, Richard Hayden, 
Frederick Fanning, Wm. B. Hayden, 



William Field, 
Asa W. Fanning, 
Samuel Green, 
Clark Kinney, 
John Keigwin, 6. 
Leonard Kegg, 
Phineas Money, 
Robart Money, 
John Packer, 
Henry Palmer, 
James Read, 2d. 
Joseph Simons, 
Russel Starke, 
John L. Spencer, 
John Scholfield; 
George Skinner, 



Elihu Ingham, 
Samuel Loomis, 
W. Latimer, 
E. S. Marther, 
Jesse Murray, 
Asa Pratt, 
Sely Post, 



Samuel Filbur 
Stephen G. Feld 
George S. Seymour 
Nathan Wilbour 
C A. Whitman 

SuJJkld. 
Thomas ArcheF. jr. 
Stephen Adams, 
Shelden Bement, 
George Bradley, 
Justin Granger 
Horace Hosmer 
Joseph Harris 



Faruham Parmalee,Christopher Jones- 
Lines R. Pratt, Jonah King, jr. 
Humphrey Pratt, Amos Sikes 
George Read, Chauncey Stifes, jr, 

Aaron Stevens, Warren. 

G. Southworth, 2d. David Hopkins 
Noah Scovell, Waterford. 

Felix Starkey, D. G. Otis. 

Alpheus Starkey, Watertonm. 

Andrew Bryan. 
Wethersfield. 



Ezra M Spalding, George Spencer, 
Randolph Tailor, Daniel Spencer, 
Giles B. Tanner, Noah Starkey, David Aledes 

Newton TourtellattsCharles Tiley, Samuel Bull 

Miner Walden Oliver Willson, John Buikley 
John S. Williams Ezra Williams, Richard Bunce 
Plymouth. Erastus Williams, Simeon Butler 
Bela Blakeslee Richard Williams, John B yardman 
Leveritt Bishop A. P. Williams, 2d.Hosea Bhnn, jr. 



CONNECTICUT. 



38$ 



John Butler George Rhodes 

Wm . Blum Henry Robbins 

Levi Blum Allen Riley 

Joseph Buckley Eben'r. Stillman 

Frederick Buckley James Treat 

Allen Belden Timothy Wright 

Abraham Crane, Thomas Warner 

Elisha Coleman Chester Wells 

Simeon Churchill, Thomas Wells, 2d. Joshua Latham 

Timothy Clarke Leonard Wells Allyn M. Mariner, 6 

Wm. Coney, Horace Wells 

Joseph Dimmock Henry Wells 

Luke Fortune Joseph Wells 

Harvey Dickerson Sherman Wells 

Samuel Dimmock Wells Warner 

Daniel Francis Elisha Woolcott, 

Ira Fortune Windsor. 

Simeon Francis Wm. T. Allyn 

Jas. Francis J. H. Andrews 

Mathew Francis Joseph S. Avery 

Daniel Fuller Wm. S. Benton 

Eleazer Goodrich Daniel Barker 

Oliver Goodrich Richard Butler 

Jesse Goodrich Philip Barnes 

Joshua Goodrich Jerijah Barber 

Israel Goodrich Hooker Clark 

Levi Goodrich Grove Clark 

James Griswold, 2d. Zophar Case 

Thomas Griswold Theodore Caldwell Hezekiah Wells 

George Griswold, 2dSamuel Colton,jr. Moses Wilson 

Moses Griswold David Drake, jr. Ebenezer Young 
Bildad Drake, East-Windsor. 

Lemuel Drake Barber Allen 
Martin Denslow, jr.George B. Atwell 



Wm. Hayden 
Benjamin Harget 
Dyer Harris 
Eii Hoskins 
Amos Hatheway 
Lyman Loomis 
Ira Loomis 
D. Lawrence jr. K 



Naum Moor jr. 
P. Newton jr. 
Richard Niles 
Wm. Porter 
E Palmer 
Benjamin Palmer 
Alvey Rowland 
Oliver Strong 
Richard G. Smith 
Hylus Stiles 
Abner Squire jr. 
T. B. Strickland 
Chester Soper 
Henry L Soper 
Walter Warner 
Elijah Wridge 
Locmis Warner 
Barnabas Whiting 



George Hills 
John Harris 
Samuel Harrison 
Moses Hurlburt 
Uzziel Havens 
Levi Hatch 
Frederic Hale 
Jesse M'lutire 
Lyman North 
Henry Olmsted 
Richard Price 



Israel Dible 
Giles Elsworth 
Pitts Fuller 
Abiel B. Griswold 
Wm. Griswold 
Henry Halsey 
Henry Hosnier 



Asa Bow 
John Brown 
John Bates 
Rufus Cbafee 
Jesse Charlton 
Charles Cooley 
Daniel French 



Anson B. Hayden Norman Fish 



$84 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Henry Gil man 
Epaphras Grant 
©alvin Gibbs 
Nicholas Gardner 
Caniel Gardner 
Joel Holkin, 6. 
EH B. Haskall 
Charles Jenks 
Bishop Johnson 
John C. Kingsbury 
Luke Loomis 
Stodard Lord 
Elijah Lathrop 
Chauncey Munsell 
Samuel More 
Wm. Parsons 
P. Parsons 
Daniel Fhelps 
Augustus Prior 
James Pelton 
Martin Rockwell 
Elijah F. Reed, 2d 
Curtis Skinner 
Wm. M. Strong 
Wareham Strong 
Noah Smith, 6. 
David Stoughton 
Ashbel Trenton 
Anson Thomson 
Silas Wells 
James Watson 
James Whipple 

MASSACHUSETTS 

Aiilehorough. 
John Alexander 
Benj. Balkcom 
Daniel Babcock 
Jesse Brown 
Darius Briggs, jr. 
Andrus Bowen 
B. M. Brown 
Wm. Biackinton. jr 



Stillman Blake 
David Cutting 
Wheton Cozzens 
Apollus Cushman 
John Draper, jr. 
Ellihu Daggett, jr. 
S. O. Draper 
Ira Draper 
Ebenezer Draper 
Thomas French 
Joab Fuller 
Israel Hatch 
Leprilete Hunt 
Elias Ingraham 
Elijah Ingraham 
Joseph Lang 
Lemuel May 



Hoel Smith 

Brimfield. 
Samuel Patten 
Dedham. 
Paul Ellis 

Dighton. 
Hezekiah Anthony 
Smith Capron, 6. 
Samuel WiHiams 
East-Hampton. 
Samuel Bartlett 
Seiomon Clarke 
James Clapp 
Uriel Clark 
Solomon Ferry 
Obadiah lanes, 2d. 
Justis Lyman 



Thomas C. Martha Daniel Lyman 
A. Richardson, jr. Joel Parsons, jr. 
Edward Richardsonlchabod Wright 



Olis Robinson 
John Richardson 
John R. Robinson 
Ezekiel Robinson 
Amos Sweet 
Samuel Tingley 
Joseph Witherell 
Eaton Whiting 
Bettingham. 
Truman Clark 
Tyler Daniels 
Boston. 
Rodney Buckly 
Agustus Burr 
David Colton 
John Davis 
John Farnsworfh 
Charles Larkin 
John B. Lord 
Jacob Pratt 
Benjamin Pike 
Nathaniel Payne 



Fairhaven. 
Samuel Borden 
Andrew Backus 
John Bresfer 
James Church 
Sylvanus Hitch 
Michael Hammond 
William Mitchill 
Jonathan Pope 
William Staples 
John Taber, jr. 
Cyrus White 
Luther Wilson, 6 
W. White & Co. 6 

Fmnnngkam. 
Samuel Murdock 

Franklin. 
Bethuel Boyd 
Davis Thayer 

Granville. 
John Selden 
Stephen Furncr 



MASSACHUSETTS. 



397 



Hctdley. 
Rofeart Cook 
James Cook 
Elijah Dickinson 
Levy Dickinson 



Elias Taylor jr. 
Calvin Wait 
Lyman White 
. Ezra White 
Josiah White 



Asahel Adams, 
Bele Beals 
Asa Beals 
Otis Chapin, 6. 
Daniel Clark 



Joseph Eastman 2dAmos C. WhitmoreSamuel Fisher, jr, 



Artemas Estabrook Hatfield. 

David Jones Ziba Allen 

Giles C. Kellogg Seth Bardwell 
Calvin Marsh Joseph Billings 

Cotton Nash Otis Brown 

Theodore Partridge William Beals 
Thomas Reynolds Elisha Bates, jr. 
Oliver Smith Jared C. Burdick 

William Smith Cornillus Chapins 
Eii & Enos Smith John D. Curtis 



Joseph Smitii 
Johrt Shipman 
Caleb Smith 
Lemuel Warner 
Elihu Warner 
Cook & Warner 
Daniel White, jr. 
Samuel Wood 

South Hadley. 
Robert Brainaril 
Roland Brown 
Aaron Bar tie tt 
Arunath Collins 
Joseph Clarke 



Pliny Day 
Elijah Dickinson 



Willard Gay 
Howard Hickson 
Amos Harding 
Joel Hunt 
Oliver S. Hars 
Nahum Howard 
Luther Haws 
Joseph Hacket 
David Onion 
Timothy M. Puffer 
Ziba Partridge 
Charles Richardson 



William Dickinson Sewall Sanford 
Caleb Dickinson Stephen Sanford 



Moses Field, 

Erastus Graves 

Solomon Graves 

Samuel Graves 

John Howland, jr. Baalis Bullard 

Horatio G. Knight W. Bennet 



Cephus Thayr 
Joseph \V. Wight 
Jonathan White 
Mendon. 



Moses Morton 
William Morton 
Moses Strong 
Oliver Smith 



Theophilus Graves Henrv Wilke, jr. 
Maihew Kellogg Elijah White 
Wm, Knight 
Samuel Knight 
Frederick Loomer 
John Preston 



Horace Parsons 
Warren Smith 
Joel W. Smith 
Hiram Smith 
Ralph Snow, 6. 
Ralph Stebbins 



Leverett. 
Henry Puffer 
Ludlow. 
Ephraim Gates 

Medfield. 
Enoch Billiard 
George Ellis 
Samuel Johnson 

Medway. 
Caleb Aibee 
Kk 



Wealthy Carver 
Oliver Gardner 
Lucius Ingalls 
Josenh Ins;raham 
Paul F. Khnball 
Robert Lawton 
Peleg Peckham 
James Salsbury 
Henry Thayr 
Naharn Thayr 
James Tharber 
Moses Tallom 
Giles Thurpin 
Warren Tisdale 
OIney W. Paine 
William Wheelsr 



SS8 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Samuel Whelock Eben'r. Campbell 

Middleborotigh. Joseph C. Clark 
Joseph Bourn, 6. Joshua Curtis 
Levi Pierce, 6. Dean Caswell 
B. Shepard, jr. 6. Morris Clapp 
Milford. James Clapp 

Samuel Penneman Lemuel Clapp 

New-Bedford. Zeuas Clapp 

W. & G. Allen EbenV . Clapp. jr. 

Hezekiah Babcock *7Tarham Clapp 



CaJeb Bryant 
J. M. Chaloaer 
Barney Cory 
Wm. Gordon 
John Gilbert 
Jabez Hammond 
John Harrison 



Anselin Clapp 
Oh ester Clark 
Benjamin Clark 
Sydenham Clark 
Alanson Clark 
Sereno Clark 
Henry Chapin, jr. 



Samuel W. Heath Wm Coolidge 



Caleb Jenny, jr. 
Miles Jones 
Isaac Kempton 
Robinson Lewis 
Gideon Nye 
Wm. C. Nye 
John Pickens 
Nathaniel Perry 
Merselus Post 
Wm Rotch,jr. 
Nathaniel Rogers 
Samuel Rodman 
James Rissner 
Bcnnet Wilcox 
EJiakim Willis 



L. Carter 
John Doak 
Luther Davis 
Theodore Elder 
Timothy Everett 
Gideon Edwards 



George Parsons 
Nathaniel Phelps, jr. 
Ebenezer Phelps 
Seth Russell 
Wm. Rose, 2. 
Levi Russell 
Nathan Storrs 
E'isha Smith 
Samuel Spencer 
George Smith 
Joseph Strong 
Bela Strong 
John Symmes 
Asenath Sanfor4 
Jesse B. Street 
Zebina Smith 
Watts Turner 
Noah Wolcett 

Nortkbridge. 
Ezra W. Fletcher 
Ezra Fletcher 
Norton. 
Nathan Dean, jr. 
Lemuel Perry 



Benjamin Edwards Zophar Skinner 



Hermon Fisher 
George Force 
H T. Hooker 
Harvy Hawks 
Nahum Hay ward 
Asa Jones 
David Judd, 12. 
Ezra Jewett 



Thos. WoodbridgeDavid Kclton 
Nortlutmpton. Enos Kingsley, jr. 



Robert Andrews Wm. M. Knapp 

Charks J. Allen Rodney Leonard 

Abijah Brown Elisha Morgan 

Nathaniel Baker George Maleome 

George Bridgman Elisha Marther 

Elisha Babcock, jr. Jonathan Norwood Jeremiah Beals 

Henry Barnard Wm W. Partrige Edward Bliss 

Edmund Campbell Rufus Phelps Harvey Bid well 



Plainjield. 
John Mack 

Portsmouth. 
Samuel Clark 
Springfield. 
•Epaphroditus Allis 
Edmund Allen, jr. 
Arthur Andrus 
Caleb Alden 
David Allen 
Eliphalet Abby 
Johna. Bliss 
Henry Bates 
Urbana W. Butler 
Elijah Blake 



MASSACHUSETTS, 



sm 



Wm. Ball 
Allen Bangs 
Uri Bishop 
David Barber 
Calvin Barret 
Alfred Bates 
Benj. A. Bennet 
Charles Burnhain 
Walter Bates 
John Barlow 
Joel Brown 
Joseph Carew 
David Chapman 
Henry Comstock 
Levi Chandler 
John Crook 
Amos Carruih 
Enoch Chapin 
Zaphney Curtis 
Samuel Carter 
Jedediah Capen 
Nathan Crocker 
Nathan Cha»dler 
Owen Dickinson 
Caleb Ellison 
Jacob Easty 



Zenas Hancock 
Lutber Hosmer 
Andrew Hyde r 2d. 
Levi Jones 
Stephen Jones 
John D Jones 
Abiram P. Knapp 
Surminas King 
Mervin Kirkland 
William Lloyde 
Jabez Lame 
David Leonard 
Charles Lath rap 
Oliver Lathrop s 
Eli Moore 
Martin Moses 
Outin Murphy 
Marvin Mudge 
Orn Morhoey 
Cyras Neweil 
Sylvester Nash 
Oliver Newton 
Philip Oratt 
Horace Osbone 
James Otis 
William Parks 



Reuben N. ForwardCharles Packard 



Enoch Fletcher 
Samuel Fuller 
Lewis Foster 
Wm. H. Fosler 
Stephen Field 
John GrannelJs 
Parley Grovenor 
Elisha Gunn 



Naham Patch 
Stephen Fopkin 
Asa Parsons 
John Partrick 
Simeon Pomeroy 
David Parsons 
Amos Putnam 
Benjamin Phelps 



Lewis GoodenoughJoseph Pease 
Gideon Gardner Otis M. Quivey 
Timo. Herrington 
Ssmuel Hawkins 
Daniel Harfuny 
Walter Hitchcock 
Ransley Hall 
Ira House 



Horace Richardson 
George Reynold 
Joseph Roberts 

Sables Rogers 
George Reynolds 



David Rice 
William Rogers 
Thomas Rogers 
Zinri Richmond 
James Russell 
Austin Stedman 
Henry Sargeant 
Caleb Stebbins 
Aaron Spencer 
Russel Sage 
John S. Savory 
Joroun Strong 
Elijah Snell 
Alexander Stocking 
Henry Stark ey 
Jonn Sherret 
David Sikes, jr. 
Wiiiard Sprout 
Simon Sanborn 
John Stebbins 
Gad Sackcfc 
Silas Tempter 
Benjamin S. Tufts 
Norman Trask 
Luther Vanhorn 
Jeremy Warriner 
Asa Wood, jr. 
Elija Wilson 
A. B. Wads worth 
James Wolcott 
Preserved White 
Eber Ward 
Ariel Warner 
Luther Warewell 
John H. Winslow 
Martin Whice 
John Wood, 2d. 
Samuel Wardwell 
Nathan M. Wood 
Calvin Wright, 2d. 
West- Spring jield. 
Benjamin Ashley ,jr. 



400 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Joseph Ashley, jr. 
Araimah Allen 
Benjamin J. Alien 
Justin Ashley 
Ira Bradley 
Charles Brocket! 
Theodore Bellows 
Oliver Bagg 
Lhias Basg 
Ezekiel Bagg 
Simon Brooks 
Aaron Bagg 
Cabel Biiss 
W. Butler, Jr. 
William S. Bowe 
Isaac Bowe 
Abraham Basg 
Eli Burt 
John Cooper 
E'eazer Day 
Edmund Day 
Moses Day 
John Dorrell 
Joel D arrow 
Russell Ely 
Mulford Eldrige 
Martin Ely 
Daniel Ely 
John Ely, jr. 
Jonathan E Ferry 
Alba Kimball 6 
Luther Lane 
Josiah Loo mis 
Asa, Leonard 
Roswell Morgan 
Asa Miller, jr. 
Edmund Palmer 
Luther Philips 
Joshua Street 
Joel Smith 
William Smith 
iT Smith, jr. 



Preston Smith Daniel Wildman, jr. 
Harry Stiles Walpole. 

F. Steaphenson Michael Brown 
Henry Tuttle Ebenezer Battle 

Chandler Todd Harry Clap 
Luther Vanhorn Lazare Coste 
Elisha Winchel James R. Clark 
Jesse Whitman jr. Edward G. Cundall 
Josiah L. Warner Blaynard B. Clap 
Joseph W. -Gay 
John Hunt 
Galon Mann 
David Morse, jr. 
Samuel Parke 
Henry Plimpton 
Nathan Pond, 2d 
Curtis Pat ridge 
John Stevens 
Sfcth Smith, 2d 
Jonathan Wild, jr. 
Thomas S. Webb 

Westhampton. 
Noah Cook 

WUlimnsburgh. 
Alfred H. Rodman 
ttrenlham. 



Sutton. 
John Whipple 
Swanky. 

John Kelton, jr. 

Taunton. 
David Andrus 
Elkanah Andrus 
Charles Babbitt 
Edward Crassman 
Benjamin Cooper 
James Cross man 
Charles Cobb 
James Dean, },r. 
James Dan for JS 
Billiard Earl 
Nathan Fisher 
Nathaniel Fales 
James L.Hodges 6 Ray &. Clark 
William C. Rood John Fisher 
Samuel Hilton Joseph Feitt 
Josiah L. James 6 Borak L. Fuller 
Seth Johnson Nathan Farrington 

Charles Porter Aaron Farrington 

William Preshrey jr.Harvy Hayford 
Billings Pres bury Samuel Haws 
Zache's RichardsonKollock Ide 
Joseph Reed, jr. 6 Henry Leman 
John Reed Elias Metcalf 

J. W. Seabury, jr. Harvy Reed 
C. Washburn Daniel Tolman, jr. 

William WashburnAIlen Tillinghast 
Henry Washburn 
Isaac Washburn, jr. 



NEW- YORK. 



401 



New-York. 
Albany Sf Colonie. 
Samuel R, Adams 
Pliney Allen 
Asa K. Allen 
Joseph Adams 
Lucy Allen 
Samuel Adams 
Adams & Crary 
David Angus 
Seth Arnold 
Tilly Allen 
David Allen 6 
Gilbert Ackerman 
Jacob B. Angus 
Oliver Andrews 
Mathias Austin 
Mathew Ashe 
Daniel Albertson 
Amasa Albee 
Joseph Avery 
Wm. Allanson 
Galen Avery 
Andrew Abel 
Elizabeth Arnold 
John Alexander 
Dennis Allen 
Henry W. Bratt 
Roswell Babbit 
John Brown 
Isaac Burton 
Wm. Babb 
Isaac Brotherton 
Jonathan Burt 
Harris Belote 
Sarah Blakeman 
G. V. S. Bleecker 
Hugh Bradford 
Samuel Bates 
Allen Brownson 
Austin Bonny 
James C. Bebee 



James Black 

Francis Barnes 

David Blakeman 

Timothy Brigden 

Charles Blakley 

Baruch Bolster, jr. R. W. Brower 

John Burt David Brown 

Nathl. W.Benton 

John B riant 

Samuel BrimhaH 

Mary- Ann Butler 

Margaret Barton 

Catharine Bell 

Robert Boyd 

Elizabeth Browning John Burt 



Syhrant Bleecker 
Edward Bulkley 
Charles Boynton 
Benjamin Burt 
Jock Barbour 



Lucretia Brainard 
Elisabeth Blackball 
Myles Byrne 
Samuel Beil 
Jonas Butterfield 
George W. Barnes 
(Calvin Butler 



Azor Brown 
Sarah Brush 
Margaret Berry 
Simon Bates 
Samuel Baxter 
John W. Barrie 
Earl Bridges 



J. H. Browep 
Jno. Blackman 
Hannah- E Colhotfn 
ShubaelB. Coffin 
James Chambers 
Samuel Cate 
Elisha Craw 



Alex. H. Benedict John S. Colbafch 



Nathan Bui lard 
Henry J. Bogart 
John Bennit 
J. S. Burrell 
Alexander Beatty 
Allen Brown 
Miles Benjamin 
Wm. Bigeiow 
Catharine Bowne 
John M. Beath 
John Browning 
John Bootman 
Charles Bruce 
Jonathan Betton 
James Bloomer 
John Bridgeford 
Simeon Brown 
Robert Brown 
James G. Bishop 
Kk2 



Peter Cure 
Thomas Calvin 
Thomas Chambers- 
Luther Center 
Joseph Crossett 
James Caldwell 
Smith Cogswell 
Daniel P. Clarke 
Francis Clow 
Amos Choate 
Sarah Clark 
Geo. D. Carmichael 
Alex. Chestney 
Robert Coifing 
John D. M' Carson 
Henry Cronk 
George Charles 
Stephen Covert 
Jclm Clark 



402 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



George Churchill Henry Dyre 
John Clifford John Dennis 

John Cassidy Ralph Day 

Jennet Courtney Thomas Dawson 
Margaret Courtney Ephraim Dewitt 
Cornelius J. CuylerThomas Durand 
Maxon Crandali John Doig 
Fitch Coy Sophia Dyer 

Freeman S. ClenchLewis Doty 
Benjamin Clench Joseph Dennison 



David Capron 
John Ciammony 
Wm. H. Crocker 
Mary Curreeis 
Benjamin Capron 
John S. Clark 



Rebecca Denney 
Robert Dunlap 
John Dickson 
R. W. Davenport 
Thomas Day, jr. 
G. V, Deniston 



John Cunningham Eliza Davison 



James Craw 
John Case 
Martha Collier 
Polly Coons 
Lieut. Campbell 
Chandler Carter 
Samuel Clark 
David Christian 
Peter Cowan 
Daniel Connell 
Jacob Clemmer 
Patrick OConlen 
Thomas Cole 
Isaac Chapman 
Wm. Clark 
Rufus Clark 
Daniel Dana 
Betsey Doane 
Thomas Dwight 
Joseph Divoll 
Patrick Davison 



R. V. DeWitt 
A. W. Danforth 
John Deney 
Clarissa Dean 
John Dodge 



Timothy Fish 
Harriot Forbs 
Benoni B. Forman 
Thomas Fryer 
Elihu Frisbie 
Benjamin Ferriss 
Abrm. B. Friday 
Bristol C. Fox 
Gilbert Frost 
George Forsyih 
Timothy Fletcher 
Hannah Friday 
Samuel A. Foot 
Abraham Failing 
Jonathan Fryer 
Isaac Fowler, jr. 
Abraham Fonda 
Thomas Fisk 
John D. Fisher 
John Fay 
Isaac Fonda 
Isaac Furshe 



Thomas Donnelly Mary Fuller 

Jacob Downing Dorcas Fisk 
xlndrew DalrympleAlexander Fraser 

Nathaniel Davison Adaline Foster 

David S. Dodge Wm. Groesbeck 

John F. Evertson Catharine Gordon 

John Eddy Robert Gilmer 

Sally Eppes Robert J. Gillespie 

Warham Edwards James Gourley 

Jesse Everett Samuel Gardner 

John Eramert Noah Gilford 

Roswell Eaton Lucinda Gere 

Ehen S. Edgerton ftewman Gilbert 



Robert Egan 
J. Eutyberger 
Andrew Elliott 



Hezekiah Davison Alexander Forbs 
Pelatiah Dwight Hugh Fraser 
Elizabeth Dyas Samuel Faller 
Warner Daniels Benjamin Fassell 



Rufus Green 
Simon M, Griffiin 
Mathew Gregory 
John W. Great 
John M. D. G^rson 
Wm Gillespie 
Wm: Gibbs 



NEW-YOEK. 



403 



Darius Gere 
James P. Gould 
T. V. W. Gould 
John Giles 
Daniel Gager 
John Gibson 
Silas Gregory 



Harley Hosford 
Noah Howard 
Frederick J. Ham 
George Hanford 
Jona. Hocktaling 
Ebenezer Hafford 
Jabez Hills 



J. V. B. Garbrance Elizabeth Hooker 
S. W. Goodwin Samuel Hinman 
Stephen Gay John Henderson 

Amey Green James Hooghkerk 

Christian GrosbeckGordon Hutchins 
David Godden John Hooker 
Catharine GrosbeckAmos Hutchings 
John Garrey Mary Higbee 

Daniel W. GlashanMartha Hart 
Benjamin Goy Eliza Heet 
Maria Hunn George Harper 

Abraham Higham Hugh Humphrey 
Thomas Heads wick Jo hn Harrison 



John D. Hunn 
Jacob Hutchins 
John Harmon 
John Hyde 
Robert Henry 
John P Higgins 
Azel Hooker 
James Hilton 
J. W. Hingerland 



John Henry 
James P. Howland 
Stephen Haskell 
Wm, Houston 
Richard J. Holmes 
Jane Hartley 
John Hardman 
Eliphalet Havvley 
Maitby Howell 



Lucas Hooghkerk Thompson Hord 
David Hawthorn Thomas Hendiew 



Solomon Hass 
Samuel Henry 
Wm. Hilton 
Hector Hubbard 



Israel Hustell 
Samuel Harbeck 
John Harrison 
Jacob Kindrer 



Maria Hendrickson Eliza Eagerly 



Wm Hall 

E. & E. Hosford 
Ralph Hosford 
Samuel Hall 
Jacob. Hindrer 
Arthur Hotchkiss 



Joseph Hall 
Edward Hunter 
John Hamilton 
Eliphalet Jones 
Asa D. Johnson 
Johe Jones 



John S. Jones 
James Jenkins 
M. P. Jackson 
Marsh John 
Amasa Joslin 
George Ingraham 
Joseph Ingraham 
Wm. Johnson 
N. Joralemon, jr. 
Jeremiah Jones 
Thomas Jones, jr. 
Elisha Johnson 
Luther Jones 
James Jaquay 
Jason Kiesla 
Mary F. Keeler 
Clayton Kindal 
Catharine Kellogg 
Mary Keeney 
Rev. John Keys 
Bartholomew Kene 
Graham Klinck 
Moses Kenyan 
John G. Klink 
Thos. Knowlson 
Joseph Kingsby 
George Kane 
Wm. Kane 
Joseph D. Kittridge 
John Kidney 
Daniel V. Loud 
Charles Luther 
Wm. Lloyd 
John A. Lark in 
James Lewis 
James Laumere 
Lewis Litchfield 
Morriecai Lester 
W. B. Larkin 
T. W. La more u 
John Le: ue 
Andrew Lightbocly 



40* 



SUBSCMSBRS NAM23. 



Stephen B. LeonartiMorris M'Graw Colman Nash 

Benoni Lurrey Christiana Monk Margaret Naylar 

Martin Laker ©avid Mann Lewis Newman 

Francis Low Joshua B.M- Donald James Nutt 

Jeremiah Luther John M'Meekin John Nelegar 

Thos. Linacre Randall M'Collum Francis Noble 

Samuel Low Susanna M'Kenna Mary Newell 

Lina W. Lay Curtis Munger John Newson. 

Jane Luces Daniel D'Intosh Isaac Nash 

Wm. Lawley Medan Martien Samuel Norton 

Gany Lewis Cornelius M'KelveyJohn Norton 

Burr Lewis Jonathan Morel Stephen Oaky 

Amos Lindsey Thomas C. M'Grath Benjamin Ostrander 

Wm. Luck J. M'Pherson Owen Owens 

A. T. E. Lansing J. M'CIenahan Jacob Oake 

Daniel Lane Abraham Martin John Ogden 

Daniel Leland Joshua Marsh Anthony Planta 

David Lynch Daniel Morrel James Pease 

Phebe Legg JohnM. M'Harg Wm. Phipps 

John Lee F. M'Naughtan John Perkins 

Preston Lincoln Peter Mochrie Connal Parker 

John Lumley David Mead John Parrison 

J. C. M'Dougal Sarah Musier John Patrick 

Hannah Muine John M'Murry John B. Parinton 

Daniel Mills Wm. Munson John Porter 
Caleb Mathews 
Richard Merrifield 



Manchester & Kin-Philip Phelps 



nioutt 
Samuel M'Murray Jacob W. Morris 



Thomas Moone 
Lemuel Moss 
Wm. Myndersen 
Wm. M'Lasky 
Eleanor M'Kay 
George Milton 
Peleg R. Miller 



Rora Moulton 
Wm. Mitchell 
Wm. M'Intosh 
Win. Maxwell 
Wm. M'Adon 
Joseph Morris 
Thomas Martin 



Ebenezer MurdockAbel Marble 



Henry Moschel 
Joseph Mills 
S. H. Moore 
Robert Moore 
Sheldon Malary 
Eiisha $liner 



Thomas Mounsey 
Robert M'Intosh 
James Mulligan 
James Martin 
Wm. MPherson 
Thomas Macvie 



J. Porter 
B. Pearce 
Solomon Pangburn 
Wm. Pomroy 
Wm. Philips 
Palmer & Tinker 
Edward Proby 
John Pearce 
James J Penny 
Wm. Penny 
John Peers 
Elisha Putnam 
Lemuel Price 
Abraham Pittengers 
Jane Pay torn 
John Purdy 



tTEW-YOltg. 



4$£ 



Gilbert Purdy Betsey Ruiwee Samuel Sherwood 

Wra. Pusburgh Asa Rich Elen Sharp 

Archabald PattasonJohn Rich Teter Smith 

Sylvanus Parsons Richard Reynolds Andrew Simmons 
Wm. Patterson Wm. Roades Russell Stodard 

J. B. Quackenboss Henry Rector Frederick Seger 

B. Quackumbush Joseph Robbins Deiademia Seger 
G. Quick Enoch Rice Joseph Sherman 

Mary Quick Henry Rivers, Robert T^ain 

Gerrit QuackentrassThomas Ridgaway Cotton Smith 
A. Quackenboss Samuel Smylie C. Schermerhorn 
James Rogers Henry Snyder 

Adam Russ Daniel Stewart 

Caleb Russell Zebina Siurtevant 

Daniel S. RobersonRachel Stewart 
Robert Remington D. Stunberg 
Christopher RussellJacob Shumaker 
Jonas J. Rudes Daniel Shays, jr. 
G-arrit W. RyckmanAIanson Sheldon 



Richard Roser 
John Reskhou 
John Russell 
John Roiney 
Asher Riley 
James Robinson 
James 15. Bobbins 
B. W. Rathbone 
Elizabeth Root 
John Roff 
Margaret Ratcliff 



John Sipple 
A. Sheppard 



H. V. R. Sehermer- 

horn 
Elisabeth Smith 
Jacob Shaffer 
Duncan Stewart 
Jonathan Shepard 
W. & J. Scoon 
Samuel Swasey 
Anna Sherman 
Peter Schrier 



Adriand StackhouseNancy Story 
John S. Smalley Stephen Shepard 



Eliza Sickels 
Lewis Stone 
Thomas Shaw 
Abijah Smith 
Robert Sinclair 
Obadiah Smith 
Henry Smith 



Joseph Sey mo iii- 
John Sawyer 
John Shell 
John Spawn 
John Sergent 
Frederick Sergent 
EJiza Singleton 



Christopher Rubey Nathaniel StimpsonSally Swasey 

Israel Reynolds A. Shields Sally Sanders 

Thomas Radcliff David Scott Polly Stansill 

Joseph T. Rice John A. Sturges Daniel Spooner 

Marcus F. Randolph Eliphalet Steele W. Z. Tiffany 

Nahum Rice Jacob A. Stiles Isham J. Teller 

Selah Riley M. B Slocum Joshua Tinker 

Benjamin Ross Jer. Searl J. H.Talmadge 

Charles Rice Hezekiah Scovel Samuel Tues 

Cornelius RyckmanJosiah Sherman Peter V. Tassell 

Jason Rooker James Stephens Ephraim Titus 

Robert Rubey John Sanderson John Turner 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Luther Taylor JohnVernor Teman Wilmotfc 

Benjamin Thayer Philip Vanderlip Halsey Woodruff 
James Turner Jacob Van Beuen Benjamin Whipple 
Bela Tracy G. Van Emburgh F. D. Wallis 

John Tompkins A. Van Santvoord S. B. Whitney 
Foster Taylor Edmund Van York Richard Webster 

R. Ten Broeck L. Van Kleeck Ruth Williams 
Patty Topping Jacoh No Vander- Peter G. Waldron 
Margret Todd heyden Thomas Worth 

Wai. Traver L. Van Buskirk Joseph Wilson 

Thomas ThompsonAbraham Van WieJames Weir 
Jonathan Trembles Jc-hn Vanderburg Cynthia Woods 
D. L. Tillotson Sam'l. Van DeusenJohn Warner 
John Tyler Henry Van Wie Agur Wells 

Jeremiah Tryon Pe ter Van Bergen Nathaniel White 
Wni. Van Zant Jacob P. Wilsoa 
L. Van Valkenburg Joseph Weed 



Wm. Tucker 
R. C. Tobias 
R. Tilden 
J. Ten Eick 
Loevv Theyer, 
J. V.N.Throop 
Henry Turner 
Elisha Tripp 
Edward Trask 
Wm. Tice 
John Trotter 
John B. Truax 



C. Vanhoosen Thomas White 

Samuel Ward Betsey Ward 

Charles West James Warren 

S. B. Wigton David Wood worth 

Elisha Wilcox Harris Wells 

Daniel Ward, jr. John Whitney 

H. Wilmot * David Wilson 

S. Wat kins Peter Young 

John Watson Thomas Young 

Henry Y. Webb Abi H. Yates 
Andrew Thompson Sam'l. Worthington Henry H. Yates 
Jcnas Ter Bush John Wilkes Athens. 

Carman Thompson Wm. Woolcock James Akins 

Abraham Tombs James Warren Amelia Addams 

Circuit Travels Samuel Williams Charlotte Allcot 
George Tubbs Wm. W. Williams Edward Austin 

Philip Talbert Jacob Ward JohnBegardus,jr. 

C B. Thompson Samuel C. Ward A. W. Barnard 



Gen. Stephen VanLinus Waring 

Rensseliaer Normand Ward 

Jacob Van Ness Samuel Wooster 
John I. Vau Zandt Abraham Walker 
John Vander VoortEbenezer Welch 
ChaHes Vail E. T.Ward 

Mary Van Zantz A. W. Watkins 



Calvin Balis 
Martha S. Barnard 
Alexander S. Coffin 
John B. Coffin 
Uriah Coffin 
Nathan Clark 
Hannah Church 



NEW-YO»K, 



mi 



Charles White Gideon Finks 
Lyman Wait Ezra Garrison 

Ephraim Wheeler Daniel Jacobs 
George S. Whippy H. Mansfield 

Brooklyn. Richard Newman 
David Anderson Franklin Patten 
Josiah Applegate John Reid 
George F GardinerAtexander Birbeck Wm. Snyder 
Aaron Gilbert Martin Bo wen Minerd Semmons 

David Boyd Mercy Wihnarth 

Emund Bunford Gideon Wilbur 
Frederic Dezendurf CatskUl. 

Benj. Cumberson Oliver P, Ashley 
Samuel Farrington Marj Butler 



Salmon Coffin 
Samuel Dobbin 
Sally D. Dillon 
John Frazer 
John Folger 
John Fosdick 
Simeon Franklin 



R. J. H^iinbeck 
C. Hollenbeck 
Elisha I Hand 
Wm. Heroy 
Nathiel Howland 



Russel ft HamiltonJohn Gidernslee 



John Blanchard 
Joan Holliday Mathew Mall Eliza Bi etton 

Benj. Hoviland George Heriland Maekay Croswell 
A^mira Hamilton Henry N.King T O. H. Croswell 
Samuel Hamilton John R.Latham X/harles s C. Church 
Wm. Johnston Aert Middagh James Cole 

Jus ten B. Jacobs James Moon 'Theoph. Dimmick 

George Kirby John Moon Isaac Dubois 

Ebenezer King James Van Nuyse Zenas Goodrich 

Charles G. Graham 



Russell Leffingwell Robart Nostrand 
Wm. G. Macy Isaac Nichols 
Reuben Morton, jr. John Putchen 
Lucy D'Nouguey Gilbert Reid 



Joseph Gilbert 
Lemuel Hotchkiss 
John Hazen 
Garrit Springsteel Luke Hiersted 
Richard Stanton John Hill 
Jacob Smith Nathaniel H toman 

Amos Tihdall Walter King 

Henry Ludlow 
Tertulus Ludinton 
J. B. Van Winkle Elbridge Maltby 

Gordon W. Merrick 
Clarrissa Moore 
Rev. John M. Peck 
Harriot M. Stone 
Abner Shepley 
Henry Bell Adonijah Sherman 

Z^a Dorset Pei< r Ten Eyck 

Julen Laston Hezekiah Thayer 



Sibel Olds 

Zacheus Roach 

John S. Smith 

Louisa Si'ver 

Reuben Sanderson Peter Voorhees 

Gilbert Titus Noah ^Vaterbury 

George Tolly 

Eli Town Heury Wiggins 

N. J. Van Loon Daniel Wright 

L. Van Vaulken- Brunswick, 

burgh Jesse Button 

Sarah L. Wheeler Josiah Barker 
Benj WiOmarth 
John Williams 
l«uther Wood 



405 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Wm. Van Bergen Benjamin Johnson John Springsteen 



Maria Van Loon 
M. D. Van Loon 
C. Van Bergen 
Lanson Wells 

Coeymans. 
John Fanning 

Clttverack. 
Oliver Squire 

Durham. 
Betsey Post 

Greenbush. 



Levi Judd, jr. 
Aaron King 
James Kimball 
Smith Kentfield 
Thomas Lambert 
6flannah Mason 
Daniel Noyes 
Volchait ©ssin 



Rhoda Streeter 
.Bryant Tozer 

Honeoy. 
Nathaniel Allen 

Hoosack. , 
Samuel Burreli 

Hudson. 
Miles H. Abbot 



Nathaniel D. Plum Miron Ashley 

Collins Purple Maria M. Ames 

Wm. W. Pratt Henry Adams 



Martin Van Alstyne John W. Rockwell Elisha P. Ashly 

L. M Allen John Rich Timothy Barnard 

Otis Alvord W. Spafford, jr. Benjamin Boyce 

Benjamin Akin David Stoddard Edward R. Bolles 

Jonathan Bliss, jr. Moses Smith J. Van Blarcum 

Benj. R. Bostwick Wm. P. Stark Charles H. Bartlett 

Ebenezer Bartlett Sylvester Smith Mathew Bunker 

John Bishop A. Tufts John C. Bunker 

Salmon Bostwick Benjamin Vaughan Bebecca Bunker 
Almon R BostwickRobert Vaughan E Barnard 

Zebina Curtis 2d John Van Deusen Henry Biell 

Daniel Clark J J Van ReassellaerWm. Bates 

Thomas Donnelly N. J. Vischer Justus Barbs 

AVm. P. Davis J. W. Van VeghtonSally Brown , 

Silas Fields Sally-Ann Woods Amy Babcock 

Mathew Fryer Leonard Winsiow 

Mary Gardner Wm. White 

Titus Goodwin A. H JrhUbeek 

Israel P Hand John T. FFhitbeek 

Hosea Hulet H. H. Wendell 
Abram Hoag Gibbonsville. 



John S. HearmaneeSamuel Anthony 
Richard P. HerrickJimes Culver 
Jonas Hallock S.W.Crane. 

Epnetus tfallock Thomas H. Dyer 
Wilder ffayward Wm. Dyer. jr. 
David Hew'it James Ford 

Nathan P. Johnson James Hitchcock 
Benjamin T ohns David Johnson j 
Peter. Johnson Andrew. Lake . 



Benajah Bingham 
Jesse Burdv T ;in 
Jared CorTm 
Richard Clark 
John Calwell 
Peter Cole 
Zephaniah Coffin jr. 
Charles G. Clark 
Polly Clark 
Samuel H. Condit 
John M ; Donald 
Edward Day 
Jacob Davis 
Horace Durrie 
Horace Day 



John Deuell 
Henry Dickinson 
Charles Darling 
Peter Elliott 
M. Eckerts 
Jabez Edgerton 
Daniel Fowler 
Gayer Gardner 
John Graham 
James Gordon 
Jacob Gardner 
John Hosmer 
B. Hancock 
W. E. Heath 



Wesley Moriarty 
Ephraim Muir 
Hannah Morrison 
Sarah Minard 
Sophia Mandavill 
Joseph Moseley 
David Nelson 
Wm. Nelson 
Rhoda Norcut 
Henry Parkman 
John D. Parsons 
Thomas D. Perry 
Mary Powel 
Abraham Perry 



Nicholas Hathewaylsaa« Power 

Samuel Heath 

H. Humphrey 

E J. Hazard 

Polly Has kins 

Samuel Hunt, jr. 

John Hilton 

Anna Hatchings 

Edward Hulbert 

Jesse G. Halt 

Maria Hopkins 

Eliza Healy 

Mathew P. Joy 

John W. Jenkins 

Lena Johnson 

Wm. Jessup 

Polly-Ann Jones 

John Jaqnins 

Margaret Jenkins 

Barzi'lai Jenkins 

Eliza Kemper 



Peter Tailor 
Henry Upton 
Ann Van Nortwick 
Albert Van Hoesen 
Garney Van Val- 

kenburgh 
Asahel Wood worth 
Philip White, jr. 
Isaac Ward 
John A. Whitney 
Robert Wadswortb 
Jos. G. Wheeler, 6. 
Barna. Waterman 

Hillsdale. 
Jonathan Worthy " 



Reuben H Pinkham 'Lmisingburgk. 
Jared Plumb Noel Atwood 

Eliza M. Pereody Russell Arimngtou 
John Paddock Timothy Allen 
Abisha Pinkham Elisha Alvoid 
Charles G PinkhamElij&h Sow 
Lewis Rich Ehenezer JBurdiit 

James Robinson Otis Bates 



David Rogers Clark Bates 

Aon Reynolds Zebina Bagg 
John Ray Charles Burnap 

Samuel Ray David Bentley 

Jacob Rabine Francis Buck, jr. 

Wm. Reed Joseph Buck 

Elijah Spencer Clarissa Ballard 
Fredrick Starr Rhodolphus Burt 
Clark Smith Leonard Blanchard 

David Stirling Lansing Bemau 
Samuel B. Sheldon Lillis T. Barton 
Benj. P. Smith EJiphalet Cushmac 
Mary- Ann Kemper John Slocum Joseph €hoate 

David Lester Abraham Schryver Edward A. Cook 

ft. I. Livingston Stephen Spooner Robert W. Clark 
Eli Mosier John Schoonmaker Henry Corrin 

Keuben Moones Theophilus Taylor Nehemiah Chesse- 
Samuel S. Moore Eli Thorp brOugh 

Wm. R. Macy Saul Taylor Heze&ah Cadwell 

LI 



410 



6UB8CRIBERS NAMES. 



Anna Bisfurnell Phebe Philips Timothy Baldwin, 

Wm. Donaldson Elijah Pery F. W. De CoutSres 

George Donalds Daniel Redding Henry Z. Cox 
Samuel Elward Mary Rutherford Thomas Coles 
Le«i Eastman David Stimson Ruseff Conover 

ftufus Fisher Wm. Spotten John Cullum 

Taylor Fordham, 

Frederick Forsyth Normand Squires 
Joseph Fox Abraham Snider 

A. St. John Foster Luke Stone 
Elizabeth Giles Ezra Tubhs 
Robert Getty John G. Vander- 

AaronBHinman,jr, hayden 

Edward C. HagartyJohn Wood, jr. 

Wm. Hanford Reuben Willard 

Jacob Hogojxjom Eliza Weaver 

John Hillman, jr. James Wincheli 

Alphonzo M. HydeCurtis Willin 

Isaac Hasbrook Samuel Wilgus 

Thomas Hill Eben'r. Walbridge George J. Duryee 6 

Joseph D. HaywardJohn Winnie John Damarest 

Silas Knap Jona. Wick ware 

Jacob L. Lansing Daniel Young 

Abr'm. L. Lansing Lenox. 

Joshua Lawton Nathaniel Hale, jr. 

J. C> Lansing New-York. 

Levinus Lansing Enos Alley 

John Mills Sam'l B. AndersonDaniel Edsall 

Moses Maullin James C. Adams Barclay P. Fanning 

Benjamtn A. MannNicholas C. BadriaSamuel Forshee 

David M'Marray Joseph Brewster William Forshee 
John Bowne. 
Jacob Bausher 
Adolph Brower 
Davijl Baker 



Nancy, M. Spafford Nathaniel Conklin 
John IVrCauIey 
John M Ciave 
A. Campbell 
P. Coleman 
Lewis Civiils 
Elhanah Conklin 
P. F. Cisco 
Benjamin Charlton 
William Day 
Kindale Dunn 
George Dunn 
Henry De Wit 



Benjamin Damarest 
John Day 
Mordecai Evens 
Thomas Ensign 
Thomas R. Eldrig^ 
Calvin Ely 



Lydia Newell 
Daniel Nash 
Sally Nelson 
Charles G. Neal 
Charles Olmsted 
Oliver B. Ogden 
Calvin Preston 



Theodorous Payne Alexander Burn 
John Prest Caleb Bloon 

Matthew Perry Richard Bird 
' Inrmda Pax&er Thomas Baker 



James FJoentiue 
F. D., Francisco 
John B. Gasmer 
N. Gatjiwait 
Ezekiel Boardman Thomas Goodman 
Joseph Brunson, 6H. H. Gillet 

JohpB. GriSths 
D. B. Hempsted 
J^ut^er Harris 
EUhu Harris 
Moses Hump^ • 



Henry BSauvet 



NEW-TORS. 



413 



RtimreH Haigkt Rene Parde?sus R. B. White 
Kathan Howes Martin Powlis Samuel Wyvill 

Christopher Heiser Jacob Farsell Thomas Wails 

Joseph Horn, jr. Thomas Parks Henry Waterbury 
Thomas Hunt Thomas Parmiton Piil&town. 

Robart Hall Moses Porter Rev. C. Lahatt 

Samuel Harved Edmund Poole Smith Filkin 
Epaphras Holemes J. A. QuackembushStephen L. Viele 
Jedediah Hall Frederick Roberts Sckagiicoke. 

Sylvanus Hoyt Francis Jlaymond James Biiyse 
W. M. Hewlett John Roberts Mary Chub 

Solomon Hillwick Tobias Ryckman Thomas FoIIet 
Samual Hip Joseph Randall Smith Gcrmond 

William Jackson Ralph Remain Stephen Gaston 
James E. Jennings Nathan Raymor Wm. IvlIIen 
Joseph L. Killman Nathaniel RuddockH. Knickerbocker 



Burrit Keeler 
W.IM. Kenny 
Jesse Ketcham 
W. G. Keech 
T. T. Loomis, 6. 
Thomas Lister 



C. M. Rooseyett 

George Stralb 
Alexander Scott 
Abraham Sears 
Josiah Smith 
J. F. Van Sicler 



Benjamin Looker John Smith 
Thomas BineH William Smith 



Ezry Mudge John N . Sisco 

William Monroe John Smith 

Asher Martin Andrew Sinclair 

Enoch Miller James Sproull 

Thomas Macky William D Sim 

€. Morehouse Samuel Smith 

Alexander Martin Thomas Twire 

James Milner Gershom Thorp 

Duvid Murray Samuel Teeple 

Michael Moren John M. Thorn 

Peter Meyes J. J. Vanderpool 

John Mount William Willys 

Jacob Meyers Danjel Woolsey 

Robert Morton Joseph C. Wright Caleb P. Botsford 

Wm. Murphay John Westervelt Calvm Bowman 

Obadiah Newcomb John Wright John B. Baldwin 

Wi'Iiam Osborn James While Hugh Boyd 

B. Plair John Waring Abraham Browcrs 



Abner Lewis 
Atalanta Scoft 
Henry I. Storms 
Dennis Smith 
Wm. Winds 
Gilbert Young 

Sharon. 
Zachariah Keys 

Troy. 
Squire Allan 
Asa Anthony 
Freeman Adams 
Elijah I. Adams 
George Allen 
Thomas Brown 
Wm. C. Brooks, ir. 
ElamBuei 
Eliza Belknap 
Gid. Buckingham 
Wm. S. Beebe 
S. P. Beebe 



412 



6UBSCRIBER8 NAMES. 



Philip Brown 
Alpha C. Baras 
Jacob Bradt 
Solomon Bilson 
Samuel Bingham 
Win. M'Clure 
Henry I. Curtiss 
Waterman Can- 
John Cony , 
Arch'tk Campbell 
Mary Corel 
WiHard Clark 
Elam Converse 
Joseph Cook 
Wm. M Cullar 
Harriot Chichester 
Gerrit Clute 
isa Carlton 
Chester Clarke 
/>phaniah Clark, jr, 
Patrick Cole 
Philip Dater 
iisek T. Daniels 
.'jovsIl Downing 
V/iii. C. Devie 
Sidney Dale 
Abner Davis 
David Darrah 
David Doan 
Lewis G. Dole 
Abraham Eager 
Seth Eastman 
Perez Ensign 
Abner Poster 
Najhf. Farnham 
Ira Ford 
John V. Fasset 
MdseS Fero 
David Fancher 
Elizabeth Fronk 
John P. Funda 
Rachel Fero 



Henry Fero 
Robert Gillespie 
Henry Grace 
John Graves 
SamL L. Gallup 
N. Gilbert, 6 

Ingraham Golden 
Israel Green 
Rulus Grandy 
John Grace 
Joseph Giilaspie 
Josiah Greenman 
S. P. Goodrich 
Hat riot B. Green 
Isaiah Gavit 
Simon Goodwin 
JohnH. Gade 
B Gale 

Andrew Hemphill 
.Win. D. Haight 
Mary Hallam 
James M. Havens 
Josiah Herri-ck 
James Holland 
Hannah Hudson 
Mariah Haff 
Asaph Humphrey 
John Hodgkm 
Ruema Holden 
Stephen Hyatt 
Holden Hill 
James Hyatt 
Jane Harkliff 
John Johnston 
Francis James 
John Kleenj jr. 
Jonathan Keeney 
Peter Kurezya 
Daniel Keeler 
John Keeling 
Roger Kin<j; 
Mases Knapp 



Lewis Keeler 
John Leonard 
Edwin M. Larcher 
Amos Larcom 
Mary Linn 
Phelix Lester 
Aaron Lindley 
George Lent 
Aaron Learned 
Nathan Morgan 
Uriah Miller 
Joseph Myers 
Anna Morley 
John C. Myers 
John Marstin 
Daniel Mason 
Samuel Martin 
Eliakkn Meeker 
Abraham Miller 
Mary Mason 
John Morris 
John Morey 
David MKelsie 
John Nafew 
Lucy Nobles 
Wm. Neafus 
Ebenezer Prescott 
Freeman Parks 
Sylvester Packard 
Aaron Payne 
Jessee Peters 
Jason II. Price 
Henrv Pickle 
WmL. Petts 
Wm. Ross 
Samuel Raymond 
Archiile I Rousseoi* 
Amanda Robbins 
MNiel Sevmour 
Peter Sprague 
S. S. Seleck 
Chade Southwicb 
Catherine Stackpoul 



RHoDE-IsLAND. 



US, 



Abigail B. Smith Ann Wis wall 
Jane Smith Joseph Wilson 

Elisha B. Speary Win. Young 
Frederick Sehryver Washington. 
John Stilson John Abrahams 

Benjamin Smith , H. V. Cuyler 
Samuel Scobey Minor Crumby 
Samuel Swartwout Zina P. Egleston 
Wm. StoekweU J. Hitchcock 
E. M South wick James Rattray 



Abraham Staples 
Frederick Tators 
John Tyler 
M. Ten Eyck 
Henry Townsend 
Luke H. Thrall 
John Tarbeli 
Horace Turner 
John Urann 



Nicholas Wagar 

Waterford. 
Robert Anderson 
Peter Boss 
Francis Drake 
S. De mares t 
Joel Downer 
Roger C. Evans 
Reuben Field 



D S. Vanderhey- Ana Foster 

den Jonah Goodrich 

Adam Valuntine. Allen Redden 
Benj VanAtter John Hall 
Mathias VanheydenJohn Humphrey 



J. Van Schoonhoven 
J. TerwiHager 
D. Vanalsiine 
H Vandcnverken 
Charles Websler 
Abraham Young 

Water deit. 
Israel Anthony 
Nicholas Basseit. 
Henry Camel 
R. Cunningham 
JohnG. Clute 
Fones Cole 
Jacob W. Frets 
John Gorslin 
Wm Heermans 
Albert Beemstreet 
Reuben King 
John A. Lansing 
W. C. Pomimaa 
Wm. Roff 
S. B. Stearnes 
J. Vandamark 
Martin Van Olinda 



J Van Benthusen Charles L Harper Abraham W. Van* 
Ebenezer Wilson jrEbenezer Keeler Dcnburg 
Elijah Watson Win I. Lansing S. V. S. Van Ben 

Jona. Woodward jr.F. Livingston Burgh 

Ebenezer Webb Aaron Meeker James Wade jr. 
Thomas White Robert Moe 

Alsop Wade Henry Macomb Rhode-island. 

Justus Wright, 18 John Mitchell Brisicl. 

David Wendell Marria Mc Donald Palmer Brown, 6 
Jane-Maria WendellC. Moran James P. Burges- 

Robert Waldby John Pettit Peleg Bosworth 

Jonathan Weeks Benjamin Preston James Crosswell 
Andrew WaterburyWm.. Ransom Oliver Cornell 

Andrew Wilson John Robson Francis Dimond 

JaneWinne Ephraim Rendall Henry Fales 

Hannah Warren Smith St RathboneLefavor Howland* 
Daniel S. Whipple G. V. SchoonhovenWilliam Hart 
Hugh D. Welch Joseph B. Smith Sylvester Luiber 
Samuel V/hiUnash L 1 2 



414 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Thomas Munro, 4thJoseph Cary Thomas Kilfon 

Josiah Munro Wanton Chase John J. Kilton 

Benja. Manchester Samuel Cransionjr. William Kerds 

Wood $t Miller OwenM'Cabe Nathaniel Lawrence 

Benjamin Norris George Collins Amos Lindall 

John Peckham Asel Collins Benjamin Morse 

Benj. W. Robbins Isaac Congdon Josiah G. Matteson 

Edward Spalding William Cooke James Matteson 

William Simmons Jesse Cooke Thomas Mills 

George W. Swan Caleb Cooke Alex. M'Murra 

Samuel Tylor Hezekiah Davis William M'Cann 

Allen Wardwell, jr.Ephraim Elsbree Rums Northup 

Ambrose Waldron Henry Essex Olney Potter 

Coventry. Luke Flood James Pollard 
Chauncy Andrews Peregrine P FosierBenedict Peckham 

Moel Allen Samuel I Field J. M. Parkerson 

J Anthony 2 Jeremiah Greene Jonathan Phorton 
Merit Arnold Simon M. Griegier Jn». N. Pearce 

James V. Arnold Joseph Griffin Thomas Phillips 

DanielS. Anthony Daniel Gifford S. W. Parkerson 

.'abez Anthony Campbell Gibson Eliza A Parkerson 

Charles Andrew James Gorton Fhineas Pearse 

Benjamin Andrew Daniel Gooham Phillip Potter 

Joseph Arnold John Gatks John Bunnell 
Irus Albro Joseph Howland, jr. Moses Roberts 

Daniel Babcock, jr Benjamin Hanens Stephen Smith, 3d 

Samuel Budlong John Hill Randall Sherman 

Charles Bowen George Hunt, jr. Alex. B. Sherman 

James G. Brown Isaac Hyde Daniel Snell 

Amos Brings Sylvanus Hopkins William Sweet 

John Baldwin Thomas HierSihy Sylvester Stone 

William Beoty Joseph O HopkiusJoseph Sweet 

James Buriingame Nathan Hammon Libbeus Taylor 

Adfa Bowen Joseph Hines 6 Robert Taft 

Henry' H Brown Cyrus C. Hines Ezra Tiffany 

0:is Bullock John Hawkins Thorn. Thompson 

T Benington, 3d. Philip Hopkins James Wbifehorn 

Bowen Bullock 2 John Henry Thomas Wilbour 

Russell Briggs Olney Johnson Beriah Wall 

E5isha Bake? Hollis R Jenkes Thomas Whipple 

James Congdon Perry G. Janus M. S Whitman 

F * :; : sseli Chose - John Jones Benjamin Wamp? 



flflODE-ISLAKD. 



$15 



Paul N. Weaver 
Isaac Whitehead 

Cranston. 
Jonathan Aborn 
Joseph Aborn 
John Brady 



A. Seamons - Thomas Mayhew 
George Seamons John Marsh 
James Thorp Moses Norman 

George Waterman Josehn H Patten 



John Westcott Tim. R Peckham 
Newport. Benj. H. Pitman 

Wm, R. Chapman John B. Atkinson Daniel Peckham 
Amos Horton Andrew V. Allen Isaac C Peckham 

James Harris, jr. John Brown Daniel Pease 

Benoni Lockwood Thomas Brown Benjamin Pearce 
Israel Smith Abraham Barker Joseph G. Stevens 

Reuben Smith, jr. Stephen Burdick Abraham Sherman, 
Nicholas Smith Stephen Barker Edward Stanhope 
Starkely Smith David Bowen Isaac Stall 

Elisha P. Smith 6 John Banister George C. Shaw 

John Williams 3d George C. $rown George W Stevens 
Benojh Williams, jr. Freeborn CoggsballSilas Southwick 

East- Greenwich Green Carr Thomas Spooner 

William Brown Samuel Carr, jr. Joseph Southwick 
Benjamin Bardine Caleb Coney John Tillinghast 

John Casey D. W. Coggeshall Henry Tew, jr. 

Caleb B Capron Braman &. Dennis Reuben Taber 
Stephen Greene, jr. William M. D) re John Tompkins 
William Marsh William Douglass Edward Vose 
George Peirce Edward Fowler David Williams 

Thomas Peirce C. Fowler John Williams 

H. T. Sallisbury Henry Fowler Beriah Waite.jr. 

Gideon C. Spink W C. Green John E. Williams 

Stephen Sweet Elisha Gibbs, jr. John Yeornans, jr. 
Ebenezer WiiliamsGeorge Hall, jr. Providence. 

Foster. John S. Hiscox Lowell Adams 

Benjamin Parker Benjamin Hadwen Amos M. Atwell 

Johnston. Nathan Hammett Wm. A. Anthony 

Daniel AngHl Benjamin Hall, jr. Dennis Aldrich 

Aaron 'Mdrich, jr. Edward W. LawtonDavid Atwood 
Benjamin BrownellRobert D Lawton J G. Amington 
Amos C. Barton Robert Law ton, jr. Cyrus Burlbagame 
Wm. Chafu John B. Lyon John Boorn 

John F. Gibbs Archibald Murnro Wdliatn Brower 

Charles Mathewson Henry Moore James E Butts 

Thomas Manton Benjamin Marble Joseph BrcaKor:} 



JJecry Stone 



Benjamin Marble, jr. Francis liaily 



416 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES, 



R. L Burroughs 
James Burroughs 
Oliver C. Barney 
Wm Bridgman 
Daniel Branch 
Annua Bliss 
Masa Bassett 
B. Bennett 
Joseph Bodge 



Benjamin Hibbard Lemuel Smith 
Joseph Hodges Thomas Shaw 
Joseph Herring Samuel Shove 
John G Hopkins Wm. Sheldon 
J. C. Hardenburgh Win. Sutton 
Benj. Hathaway Joseph G. Snow 
John D Hendley " 
Pardon P. Jilison 
Samuel Kenedy 



Nicholas Biown, 2dPower Knowles 
Artemas Brown Simeon Kingsley 



John Babcock 
Charles Babcock 
John Babson 6 
WillianrJCowring 
Josiah Cady 
Griffin Child 
Robert G. Cory 
Chauncy Cooley 
James Calder 
Wm. Carpenter 



Nathaniel Kendall 
Eddy Luther 
Charles Luke 
J. Lyndenberger 



Benajah Sweet 
Charles Seaman 
Eptirairn Simmons 
Wm. Tingley 
Adolphus Tat't 
Slieschiah Talbot 
Smith Taft 
Gorton Tallman 
Samuel Thurber 



Edward Lawrence Gardner Vaughaa 
Pardon Mason, jr. Thomas Voax 



J. F. Manchester Edward R Weston 
Henry Miller Jeremiah Whipple- 
Stephen Martin N M Williams 
James Mdler Moses Whitt urn- 
Jonathan Chap m'an James Ma*on Joseph E. Whiting 
Samuel Chase Isaac Manchester Caleb Williams, jr. 
Nathan "Daggett Lewis Najac Hercules Whitney 
David <3 Durgin Wtn N Qlney Joseph C. Weder 
Joseph Davenport Nath Procter Junia Young 
John EUis Israel Peck Samuel Yates 
Benjamin C Eddy Rowse Potter ■ North- Providence. 
Lemuel Field- William Pabodie Fairfax Abe b 
Daniel Field - William Person George Arnold 
Asa Ferguson James" M. Pike Rufus Akxander 
Israel" Fenner Oliver Price John Alien 
Benjamin GiaddingMarUn Robinson & Daniel II. Arnold 
Zeph. Graves, 2d S Remington, jr. Samuel Anthony 
Thomas E GrinnellEben. Richardson 
Samuel G.' Godfrey James Smith 



Samuel Gill 

Geo W. Gi'Ilmore Am ds Sylvester 

John Gladding- Dyniel Salsbury 

Jotham Ham 

Elisha Hicks. 

BernouHelme 



Nehcmiah Barrows 
Eliab Blake 

J s-ph Smith, 2d. Mathew Blanehord 
Silvanus Baker 
HomasBoyre 

John W Sargeanfo Erimuud R Croade 

Ambrose Simmons A lanson Carter 2. 

Nathaniel btone Menzies Carter 



RHODE ISLAND. 



4ir 



Thomas Carpenter Geideon Mavoy Dana Gale 
Noah Draper John Parker Thomas Green 

Nathl. G. B Dexter A. Relpt J M. Greenwood 



Rufus Dunhan 
Thos. W. Dexter 
William Daggett 
Caleb Down 
Joel Daggett jr. 
Jacob F. Fish 
William Fowler 
Enoch Fowler 
Sylvester Grant 
Lemuel H. Jenks 
James V. Jenks 
B. T.Kinnicutt 
John T. Lowden 
Eliot Lamb 
William Larchar 
Ephraim Niles 
John Pearce 
Lewis Peck 
Foster Peck 
Severn Summers 
Jesse Salsibury 
Henry Taft 
Stephen Taber 
Ebenezer Tyler 
Joseph Vial 
Knight Whipple 



Anthony SweetlandElisha Hopkins 
William Tompkins James Hutton 
Abner S. TompkinsLyndon Jenks 
Jenks Wilkinson Arnold Jenks~ 
William Young William Langdoij- 

Seekonk. H. L. Mansfield 

Willard Armington William Ray 
Lewis Arnold Daniel Ray 

Thomas Budlong G. B. Robenson 



Luther Carpenter Isaac Taber 6 

Cyrin French Cvrus Tracy 

Ira Gay j/w. Tarpin 

Henry Hopkins G. Wilkinson 

Sampson Howe Joseph Wetherheasl 
William IJovey Warwick. 

John Haley Whitman Arnold 

Jesse May Henry Austin 

William Martin John Allen 

George Nicolas W. A. Arnold 

Roswell Potter Russell Arnold 

Daniel Sabin G. B. Almy 

B. S. Walcotte H D. Aylworin 

Samuel Walker J. G. Armstrong 

John M Walcotte Ezra Bevin 

Nathan Yeamans Joseph Burton 

SmUhfield. Aaron Bowin 

Samuel G. WbeelerBenjamin Almy Jabez Buvlingame 

George A. Walter Parris- Aldrich- William Baker 

John Whipple Christopher Almy Thomas Borden 

William WightmanJoseph Bennett N. P, Baker 

Scituate. Darius Ballon 

James Aldrich, 2d. William Beasly 



Oliver Arnold 
W. Burlingarne 
Seth A. Curtis 
Moses Collins 
Jeremiah Fenuer 
Giles S Green 
E. Hazzard 



John Bezely jr. 
Daniel Card 
Ona Cerpenter 
J. Carpenter 
James Carroll 
John I> Daggett 
Nathaniel Vdy 



Philip Budlocg 
Clark Brown 
Lewis E. Bevia 
Ahab Capron 6 
Ira Colvin 
Agustus Carrell 
J. Capron 
George Curien 
Pardon P. Case 



418 



SUBSCRIBERS NAMES. 



Joab Cobuiii 
Royal Callum 
Geonre S. Case 
John M. G. Cory 
Abijah Collins 
Timothy Crosby 
David Duglass 
Boon & Duglass 
Stdphen Dexter 
Thomas Eldrid 
Samuel Eldred 
Thomas Eddy 
Win. Fletcher 
Samuel Els worth 
*V. M Farland 
Thomas Penner 
Jeremiah FrankHn. 
George Finey 
Thomas Green 
James W. Gorton 
John Green 
Edmund C. Gould 
Benjamin Green 
Olney Goff 
Waterman Green 
Samuel A. Gerald 
Benjamin Green 
Christopher Hall 
John Holden 
Ehsha Harris 
John L Thugis 
James U. Hasard 
Slocum Hall 
Joseph Howard 
Russell Hatch 
T. G. Humphrey 
R. R. Hopkins 
Celia Kilton 
Jeremiah Ladd 
Robert Sevalley 
Cyril L Morse 
Joseph Matteson ' 



Betsey Manchester Jailies Ye'fringtoa 



Samuel G. Niles 
Abigil Nason 
Daniel Nason 
George Parker 
Henry Porter 



Wickford. 
Henry Eldrid, jr. 
Nathan Gardner 
Jonathan Reynolds 
Tanner k, Arnold 



R . JVI. Richmond, 2, Reynolds 
Edward Randal Joseph Reynolds 



Nancy Russefl 
Windsor Russell 
J. W. Rice 
Peleg Remington 
Thomas Rice 
Nicholas Rogers 
Allen Stafford 
Isaac Sherman 
George W Shaw 
James M. Shaw 



William Stanton, jr. 

- Warren. 
John Brown, 8d. 
Benjamin Cole 
David Cole 
Henry W. Child 
William B. Child 
John Folsom 
Homas Ingrialiam 
Allen Luther 



Alexander T. ShawGeorge Marble 

Easton Sherman Parmer Munroe 

Thomas Stamily Job Smith 

Elezer Slocum Caleb Snefl 
Samuel C. Sweet 

Loo well Spalding nlw jersEy. 
John Sinkins 



William Tucker 

Daniel Tanner 

Archibald Tyler 

John Tailman 

Stephen Vaughan 

James Westcot 

Wanton Weedom 

R Waterman 

William Wood 

Phyletus WneeiockAaron Bacorn 

Henry Whitman Henry Bishop 

Reuben Whitman 

Samuel Wescott 

Adrian Webb 

S. W. Hightman 

Moory William 



Elizabeth- Torvn. 
Stepen Burrows 
Elihu Britton 
Dame! Rosfe. jr. 
Jersey-Ci'i/. 
David Hinman 
Abraham Vander- 
beek 
Newark. 



Samuel Brown 
Hugh Com mack 
Joshua L. Church 
Beihuel Dodd 
James Dtmfcp 



Susannah WestgateWra. Dunn 



VERMONT — VIRGINIA — N. HAMPSHIRE — CONNECTICUT. 419 



John Force 
Leonard A. Fox, 2 
Wm. Faherty 
John Gardner 
Darius Henry 
Jonathan Keene 
John A. King 
Thomas O. Kelsey 
Joseph Y. Miller 
Henry Massaker 
* John Mowerison, jr. 
Abraham Mander- 

ville 
Charles Mullen 
Robart Nichols 
Benjamin Perry 



Jacob Peshine 
Charles Roff 
Joel Ruland 
Richard Samford 
Stephen Sisco 
Henry Shoemaker 
Samuel Sisco 
Aaron Shipman 
Jotham Taylor 
James Tooles 
E. D. Thompson 
Stephen Taylor 
Nicholas Voaden 
Abner Ward 
Elias Woodruff 



Rutland. 
Soloman Dois 
Richard Muiom 



Pittsburgh. 
Thomas Robinson 

NEW-HAMPSHIRE. 

Plaififield. 
Amasa Spooner 



THE FOLLOWING NAMES WERE NOT RECEIVED IN TIME 
TO BE INSERTED IN THEIR PROPER PLACES. 



Connecticut. George May Grardty. 

^ Joel Log mis Walter Thrall 

Easl-llartford. Edward Warren 
Joseph P. Jones, 5. Colchester. new- yoke. 

James Pitkin Orin Brainard 
Martin Stanley Chatham. -New-York. 

George Pitkin John Williams Abel Wheeler. 



11 

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